Man awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to cellphone theft
A man who was caught red-handed stealing a mobile phone while posing as a customer at a hotel in Kasarani, Nairobi is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to theft charges.
David Gakonyo Kariuki was charged at the Makadara Law Courts with stealing the phone belonging to Tabitha Mwangangi on January 25, 2023 at Wote Hotel along Obama road in Kasarani. He he admitted the charges before Chief Magistrate Francis Kyambia.
The court heard that on the mentioned date Ms Mwangangi was at the hotel together with her sister where they were helping their mother serve customers. It is then that Mr Kariuki walked in and asked for their mother who had stepped out.
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They left Mr Kariuki inside the hotel to serve customers who were outside, leaving behind their phones. Mr Kariuki did not order anything before the two left.
A few minutes later, they heard members of the public shouting “thief” as they pursued a man along Obama road.
When they went closer to where the members of the public were holding the suspect, they realized it was Mr Kariuki whom they had left inside their hotel.
They also found out that the accused person had been found with Ms Mwangangi’s phone which is valued at Sh12,500.
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The accused had been spotted stealing the phone by the members of the public who raised an alarm while pursuing him. He was thereafter handed over to officers at Mwiki Police Station where he was detained.
Mr Kariuki admitted the facts of the case as read out in court by prosecution counsel and pleaded to be pardoned. Mr Kyambia remanded him in custody and ordered for a probation report.
The social inquiry report will be tabled in court on February 9, 2023 when the suspect is expected to be sentenced.
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