Mechanic gets 4 months in prison, 7 strokes of cane over attempted car theft

A Gudu Upper Area Court in Abuja yesterday sentenced a 27-year-old mechanic, Osama Mohammed, to four months in prison for attempted car theft.

Mohammed of Masaka, Nasarawa State was convicted for attempting to steal a car and being in possession of a master key.

The Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, sentenced Mohammed to two months in prison with an option of N50, 000 on the charge of attempted car theft and another two months in prison without an option of fine over the charge of possessing a master key.

He further ordered him to be given seven strokes of the cane and warned him to desist from committing crime and to be of good behaviour.

The prosecutor, Fidelis Ogubwe, told the court that one Oga Yemi Omotayo of Gudu District, Abuja reported the matter at the Garki Police Station on May 26.

He said the complainant parked his Honda Academy car along UTC, Area 10, Abuja to carry out some business transactions on the said date.

Ogubwe further said that when the complainant returned, he noticed that Mohammed had criminally attempted to trespass into the said car with another Honda car key.

He said Mohammed attempted to open the door of the car with an intention to steal the car before he was arrested.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 287 and 319 of the Penal Code.

Mohammed pleaded guilty and begged for mercy. (NAN)