Man jailed for vandalising PHED property

Tina Amanda

One Etim Effiong has been sentenced to one year imprisonment for attempting to vandalize armoured cables belonging to Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company PHED, at Mbiama street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt.

The convict was sentenced on one count charge of conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace by trying to illegally disconnect PHED armoured cables.

The court held that the criminal action of the convict would have plunged the entire area into darkness.

Chief Magistrate Chinwe Nsirim found Etim Effiong guilty and sentenced him to jail for one year starting from the first day he was arraigned in court, in November 2020.

In an interview with correspondent, Acting Corporate Communication Manager of PHED, Chioma Anikwe, said the judgment will serve as deterrent to anyone trying to vandalize the properties of the electricity distribution company.

She urged the public to alert the security agencies and PHED should they suspect anyone without the company’s valid identity card tampering with installations.

Anikwe stressed further that the constant vandalization of electricity infrastructures sabotages the economy.