27 Year-Old Fraudster Bags 42 Months Jail Term

Posted by African Examiner Crime Watch, Featured, Latest Headlines, News Monday, November 11th, 2013

Ruth Bamidele, Lagos

A Lagos High Court has sentenced 27year old Junior William to a forty two months jail term, seven months for each of the six count, to be served concurrently, for offences bothering on attempt to obtain credit and possession of documents containing false pretences.

The defendant, also known as James Smith and Jame Williams, names, he purportedly use in defrauding his victims, on 26th May 2013, with an intent to defraud had in his possession a document titled: GENTLEMEN AGREEMENT, a financial instrument via swift MT199+MT103 originating

from Barclays Banks PLC, London to Redsea Coorporative Hotels for transfer of €3million. The document is said to be made under pretence that the said sum is good and of non criminal origin.

The defendant also with an intent to defraud by deceit on the same day, book an online room reservation at Four Points and Sheraton Hotel Lagos, with a stolen credit card no PAN-49354901096990649 in the name of James Smith.

Prior to the sentence on Monday 11th November, Williams has entered into a plea bargaining agreement on 28th October 2013, pleading guilty to his charges. The terms of the agreement amongst others includes: making full restitution of the sum of N1. 9million, undertake to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to be of good behaviour upon his release from custody.

Prosecuting counsel led by Babatunde Shonaike urged the court to accept the plea bargaining agreement as the defendant has pleaded guilty and to sentence him by the term of the plea bargaining

agreement.

The defence counsel led by Mrs Folakemi Jegede, however, pleaded with the court to have mercy on the defendant. According to her, “he is a young man with a wife and daughter, whose life has been shattered since the case began, he has learnt his lesson and has promised never to go back to that kind of life. I pray the court temper justice with mercy”.

Justice Atinuke Ipaye, therefore sentenced the defendant to seven months in prison for each of the six counts to be served concurrently, starting from his date of initial arrest on 17th May, 2013.