A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting at Mapo in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday sentenced a 24-year-old burglar, Ismail Owolabi, to six months imprisonment for vandalism and theft of classroom desks.

Delivering judgment, Magistrate O. O. Latunji, convicted and sentenced Owolabi after pleading guilty to the two-count charge of breaking in and stealing preferred against him.

Mrs Latunji said the prosecution was able to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt with the exhibit tendered against the convict.

“Therefore, to serve as a deterrent to other criminals, you, Owolabi, are, hereby, sentenced to six months in prison with hard labour. You, however, have an option of six months of community service; three hours per day, or a N50,000 fine,” Mr Latunji said.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Oluseye Akinola, earlier told the court that the convict committed the crime on July 29 at Orita-Aperin, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Mr Akinola stated that Owolabi broke into one of the classrooms of Christ Apostolic High School, Orita-Aperin, and vandalised some desks.

He was said to have removed the desk planks and was making away with them before the school’s security personnel apprehended him.

According to the prosecutor, the convict was handed to the police at Idi-Aro Police Station.

He said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 42 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. ii Law of Oyo State 2000.

(NAN)