A Magistrate Court in Pankshin, Plateau, on Friday sentenced a man to six months in a correctional facility over Point of Sale (POS) fraud.
The 34-year-old man, who identified himself as Daniel Anichukwu, was sentenced by the Chief Magistrate, Yebo Dabup, on Friday.
It was disclosed that Daniel is a resident of De-Garden Guest Inn, Pankshin.
Dabup, however, gave the defendant the option of paying a N200,000 fine after his guilty plea.
The magistrate, who quashed the charge of criminal breach of trust, also ordered the defendant to refund the sum of N90,000 to the nominal complainant.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Success Daniel, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on April 7.
According to Daniel, Mr Uchenna Christian, the complainant, who operates a POS business in Pankshin, lodged a report at the police station on June 22.
Christian alleged that Daniel defrauded him of the sum of N90,000.
The prosecutor claimed that the defendant had collected the said amount and was supposed to make a transfer to the complainant’s account but pretended to ease himself and absconded.
He said the offence contravened Sections 297 and 306 of the Plateau State Penal Code Law, 2017.
The defendant, however, pleaded guilty to the charges, saying it was not an intentional act, as he had made the transfer and left after easing himself, believing the money had been credited to the complainant’s account.
He said he later realised that the problem was with his bank account but made the mistake of not returning to the complainant to explain the situation.