The Lagos State Magistrate’s Court in Igbosere has sentenced a housemaid, Anna Payaro, to 13 years imprisonment for burglary and theft of her employer’s $5,000.
The 28-year-old was facing a five count charge bordering on conspiracy, burglary, entering and stealing.
The prosecuting police officer, Sergeant Cyriacus Osuji, said Payaro said her accomplices, who are still at large, conspired to commit the offences on May 27, 2016, on Goshen Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
According to him, Payaro broke into the residence of her boss, Mr. Olatunde Adepoju, while the man and his family were abroad.
‘’she stole Adepoju’s jewelry valued at N1.2m, a cash sum of $5,000 and N300,000.’’
One of the prosecution witnesses, Mrs. Teniola Jaiyeola, testified that she heard the convict talking to her accomplices about the incident.
Jaiyeola said, “When I saw the broken wall, Payaro told me that it was a burglar that broke into the house. I told her that the opening on the broken wall was too small for even a newborn baby’s head to enter. I questioned her claim that it was a burglar that broke into the house.
“Unknown to her, I was still standing by when she called someone and said, ‘they said the wall you broke is too small for even a baby’s head to enter.’”
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. K.O. Matekpo, found Payaro guilty as charged.
She sentenced her to two years imprisonment on count one to four each; and five years on count five, with hard labour, totaling 13 years, which would run concurrently.
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