A Senior Magistrate Court at Mararaba in Nasarawa State on Wednesday sentenced an applicant, Joe Sunday, 21, of Auta Balafi, Mararaba to six months imprisonment for allegedly stealing car battery.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr H.A. Abundaga, however, gave the convict an option to pay N3,500 fine.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Mr Joseph Ahwa, had told the court that one Chinedu Nwaigwu of Mararaba reported the case at the Sani Abacha Police Station on February19.

He said the complainant had on February 15 parked his bus marked XA 163 NBB at Sharp Corner, only to return on February 18 to discover that the convict had stolen the battery.

The prosecutor said the convict confessed during investigation that he stole the battery which was valued at N12,000. According to the prosecutor, the convict sold the battery to one Ugochukwu now at large at large for N3,000.

The police prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 287 of the Penal Code. The convict pleaded guilty as charged but told the court that he had returned the battery to the owner and that the court should have mercy on him. (NAN)