MICHAEL AKINOLA
Two staff of De-Santos Hotel, Austine Francis, 42 and Regina Gabriel, 25, have landed in trouble in Lagos State after the management caught them eating food after cooking.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the management alleged that they stole the food because they were not permitted to do so as staff of the hotel.
The management then calculated that they had stole food items worth N1.589m from the hotel between June and October, 2023.
Consequently, the management went to the Police at Shasha Division and reported that the suspects stole the food items worth the said amount. The Police then arrested and detained them at the station for interrogation.
The Police reportedly asked them to refund the money to the management or they will be charged before the Court for conspiracy and stealing.
However, the two members of staff were unable to refund the money and told the Police that their monthly salaries were about N30,000 and if they work for two years for free, they will not be able to pay the money, which the management claimed they stole.
The Police found them culpable and consequently charged them before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence.
However, they pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.K. Dosumu-Uthan, granted them bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.
The matter was adjourned till 8th November, 2023, for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.