Bag snatcher sentenced to 1 month imprisonment

AN Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday sentenced a 20-year-old unemployed man, Sunday Joshua, to one-month imprisonment for snatching a bag containing valuables.

The Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Tanimola, pronounced the verdict after the defendant pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

Tanimola, however, gave the convict an option of N20,000 fine.

“You are hereby sentenced to one-month imprisonment with hard labour or an option of N20,000 fine.

“The sentence would serve as a deterrent to others who might want to engage in a similar act,’’ she said.

On arraignment, Joshua pleaded guilty and blamed his action on the devil.

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Joshua, a resident of Mushin, Lagos, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing him.

When the case was called up on Wednesday for facts and sentencing, he again admitted guilt and the magistrate consequently convicted and sentenced him.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Aondohemba Koti told the court that the defendant and others still at large committed the offences in February at Ladipo, Mushin, Lagos.

Koti said that the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by snatching a bag from a woman, whose identity was not disclosed.

“The defendant and his gang snatched her bag and took to their heels.

“The woman raised an alarm which attracted people around.

“The people pursued them, the defendant was arrested, while his accomplices escaped.

“The bag was recovered,’’ the prosecutor said.

The offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.