The Karu Magistrate’s Court, Abuja, sentenced Frank Ugochukwu, 34, to 10 days of community service on Monday for stealing his employer’s foodstuffs and other items worth N27,800.

The magistrate, Haruna Haruna, did not give Mr Ugochukwu any option of a fine.

The terms of the sentence include seven days of community service at the Karu Chief Magistrates Court and three days at the Karu police station for three hours daily.

The magistrate also ordered the convict to produce a surety; failure to do so, he should be remanded in prison for 21 days.

Earlier, the convict, who resides at Jikwoyi, had pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and theft by a servant.

The prosecution counsel, Olarewaju Osho, told the court that the complainant, Peace Paul, managing director of Celebrity Fried Chicken, Karu, reported the matter at the Karu Police Station on August 8, 2024.

Mr Osho said that on August 7, 2024, the convict, who was employed as a chef at the above address, while on duty, dishonestly stole some cooking items entrusted to his care.

He told the court that the convict stole five bottles of water, five pieces of chicken, five sachets of detergent, five sachets of vegetable oil, and one tin of tomatoes, all valued at N27,800.

“During the police investigation, the convict confessed to the crime, and the stolen items were recovered from him,” the prosecutor said.

He said the offence contravened sections 314 and 289 of the Penal Code.

(NAN)