Chinese charged with stealing N72.7m from employer

A 31-year-old Chinese, Tu Menglei, on Friday appeared before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, for allegedly stealing N72.7 million from his employer.

Menglei, male, was charged with conspiracy and stealing but he pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.

The prosecutor, ASP Rita Momah, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between June 2021 and Feb. 26, at Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos State.

Momah said that the defendant, employed as a manager in Perfect Diamond Industries Ltd., converted money realised from sale of furniture materials to his private use.

According to her, the defendant stole a total of N72.7 million, he realised from sales for the company.

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The alleged offences contravene Sections 411 and 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 (7) provides for seven years’ jail term for stealing from one’s employer, while Section 411 stipulates two years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to steal.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Adedayo, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

Adedayo ordered that one of the sureties must be a staff of the Chinese Embassy while the other must be a Chinese citizen employed in Nigeria.

She further held that the defendant must deposit his international passport.

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She adjourned the case until April 26 for mention. (NAN)