12 months for stealing from cousin

A man learnt that he will be spending 12 months behind bars for stealing from his cousin when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's (RM) Court on Wednesday.

Jovi Miller plead guilty to committing burglary and larceny when he appeared before the court.

The complainant told the court that Miller, who is his cousin, had removed items valuing over $51,000 from his house.

The items include a digital video disc player, a BLU phone valued at $25,000 and saving box with coins which totalled $20,000.

According to the complainant, Miller had monitored his movements in order to know when he was absent and broke into his house while he was at church.

The 24-year-old's lawyer told the court that the accused was remorseful and regretted his actions.

"He is interested in learning to do mechanics, your honour, so he is asking for a pardon, your honour," said the lawyer.

But Senior RM Judith Pusey was not moved and told the lawyer that he could learn the skill in prison.

When Pusey handed down her sentence of 12 months behind bars for Miller, his lawyer requested leniency for her client.

"I can't lower it because I was going to give him two years initially," replied Pusey.