The police on Thursday arraigned a 29-year-old printer, Francis Ekonesie, in a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Wuse, Abuja, for allegedly beating up his customer, Charles Aigbomian.

The police charged the defendant with criminal breach of trust, cheating, joint act and causing hurt.

The prosecuting counsel, Simpa Ibrahim, said that the complainant, Aigbomian, reported the matter at the Garki Police Station on August 22.

Mr Ibrahim alleged that the complainant contracted the defendant to do a printing job for him on August 18, which he failed to deliver.

He said that the complainant asked the defendant for a refund of N10,000, but the defendant, his elder sister and brother presently at large beat up the complainant.

The prosecution further alleged that the complainant lost his mobile phone valued at N146,000 as a result of the beating.

He said that the complainant was taken to the hospital for treatment and spent N40,000.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of section 312, 322, 79 and 247 of the Penal Code.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Ekpeyong Inyang, granted the defendant N500,000 bail with one reliable surety who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

Mr Inyang ordered that the defendant and surety should enter an undertaking, not to interfere with the investigations and the surety’s address verified by the court’s registrar.

She adjourned the matter until October 5 for trial.

(NAN)