A 21-year-old student, Innocent Destiny, who attempted to cheat male clients on WeChat by presenting himself as Kim Webber, is to wash toilets at Mpape motor park for 60 days, an FCT high court has ordered.
The order comes as the court considers non-custodial sentencing to decongest prisons.
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Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya ordered the prison officers to provide a register for Destiny to sign in daily for the 60 days and after which he would be free to go home.
She warned him to desist from committing crimes and be of good behavior, adding that being young or poor was not a licence to be a criminal.
Earlier, the defence counsel, Holy Nuhu prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, adding that the defendant is young and a first time offender with no criminal record.
According to Nuhu, he is remorseful and understood the gravity of his offence.
“The defendant has repented and forfeited all the instruments he used to attempt cheating. I urge the court to temper justice with mercy and sentence the defendant with the terms of the plea bargain agreement,’’ Nuhu said.
The prosecuting counsel, Ijeabalum Diribe told the court that Destiny and his defence counsel had entered and signed a plea bargain on June 22.
Diribe urged the court to sentence and convict Destiny in line with the terms of the plea bargain entered which states that upon conviction, the defendant should pay N100,000 fine or one month in prison.
The prosecuting counsel said Destiny fraudulently induced male clients on WE chat in order for them to part with their money.
She said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 322 of the Penal Code. (NAN)
