A Federal High Court sitting in Akwa Ibom State has sentenced a Point of Sale, POS, swindler, Austin Christopher Essiet to 1year imprisonment without an option of fine over N150k fraud.
The presiding judge, Justice Agatha Okeke who found Essiet guilty as charge ordered him to pay the sum of N150k as restitution to the petitioner.
Austin Essiet was arraigned before the court in Uyo on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a three count charge levelled against him.
He pleaded “not guilty”, which led the prosecution, through its counsel, Mr. Agbo Abuh to open trial, to prove its case against Essiet.
Essiet met his waterloo on October 19, 2020, when he was arrested by operatives of the Commission along Ifa Road, Uyo.
His arrest followed information by a concerned POS operator whose account was frozen by his bank after Essiet made withdrawal from different accounts, up to the tune of One hundred and fifty thousand naira, from his POS booth on Oron Road, Uyo.
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According to the POS operator, shortly after the defendant left his shop, his account was immediately frozen by his bank, following reports of fraudulent withdrawals by the various account owners.
He alleged further that the bank compelled him to pay back the withdrawn sums to the various owners.
The prosecutor called three witnesses; John Effiong Etim, the petitioner (PW1); Godswill Vesta Utong, Access Bank staff (PW2); and Unyime Moses, an EFCC operative (PW3).
The witnesses tendered documents which were admitted in evidence.
The prosecution thereafter closed its case.
And the matter was adjourned till March 18, 2021, for the defendant to open defence.
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When the matter came up, his counsel, G. N. Ezugwu informed the court of the defendant’s intention to change his plea from not guilty to being guilty
The development which made the prosecutor, Mr. Agbo Abuh to amend the charge information and asked that the charge be read to defendant for his plea.
When the charge was read to him, he pleaded “guilty” to the one-count count charge bordering on fraud and stealing to the tune of N150k.
In view of his plea, Mr. Abuh urged the Court to rely on the testimonies of the witnesses earlier presented and the exhibits admitted in evidence, to convict Essiet.
Justice Okeke convicted and sentenced the defendant to 1year imprisonment without an option of fine, with effect from the date of his arrest.
