The Yendi District circuit Court has sentenced a 29-year-old unemployed man, Mohammed Dauda, to 10 years’ imprisonment for engaging in a series of thefts targeting both public and private institutions and individuals.
The court, presided over by His Honour Francis Ayamwuni Asobayire, found the convict guilty of stealing components from air conditioning units and other electrical equipment.
According to court proceedings, the accused had been involved in dismantling and stealing parts from facilities including Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) offices, and private residences.
’’Are you the one behind stealing around the ccourt premises the judge asked’’. However, the suspectd declined to answer in silence while in the witness box.
When the judge asked the suspect if he was the one behind stealing in the court premises, he declined.
Institutions complaints of stealings includined Yendi Municipal Assembly, Yendi Health insurance office, Yendi community center building, Church of Christ clinic and Yendi peace center.
In one incident on April 15, a victim reported to the police that while studying in his room at about 2:00 a.m. with his air conditioner running, he heard a loud noise from the direction of the unit.
Upon checking, the complainant found the accused cutting copper pipes and cables connected to the air conditioner.
The suspect fled upon being spotted. However, in a surprising turn of events, the accused later returned to the scene, unaware that the complainant had hidden nearby.
When the suspect resumed the act, the complainant raised an alarm, leading to a hot pursuit and his eventual arrest.
A subsequent police search of the convict’s residence uncovered several dismantled air conditioners, a Samsung home theater system, and desktop computers believed to belong to various institutions and individuals.
The court noted that the recovered items were linked to multiple theft cases reported within the area. Following the trial, the court sentenced Mohammed Dauda to 10 years in prison.
