This article is from page 19 of the 2012-03-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 19 JPG
A FORMER primary school teacher used a suitcase lined with tinfoil in an attempt to steal goods from a supermarket in Ennis, a court has heard. Security staff at Dunnes Stores called gardaí after Mao Kimbadi was caught in possession of the suitcase on December 4 (2011).
Ennis District Court was told that the suitcase had been lined with tinfoil in an attempt to avoid the detection of security devices in the store.
On Tuesday, Kimbadi (39), with an address 12 Linnane’s Terrace, Kilrush Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to having the suitcase with the intention that it could be used in the course of or in connection with a theft.
Kimbadi, whom the court heard was previously a primary school teacher in the Democratic Republic (DR) of the Congo, also pleaded guilty to charges of theft and handling stolen property.
Insp John Galvin told the court that two men were seen breaking into cars in the College Green area of Ennis on November 13 (2011).
He said when gardai arrived they found Kimbadi and another man outside 86 College Green in possession of a gold pocket watch and 50 US dollars that had been taken from a car. Insp Galvin said gardaí were making enquires at Ennis National school on November 14 (2011) when they noticed two men acting suspiciously in the bushes backing onto Linnane’s Terrace on Kilrush Road.
When gardaí approached the area they discovered a Packard Bell computer monitor, a Compaq hard drive and keyboard, a Sony Playstation 2 and controls, 30 Playstation 2 games and a black bomber jacket with the Audi insignia.
Insp Galvin told the court that Kimbadi admitted to gardai that he knew the goods had been stolen.
Kimbadi was also charged with stealing a bottle of Cercutti 1881 Perfume from Boots Chemist on December 10 (2011).
Solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client, a father of two, moved to Ennis from DR Congo 10 years ago to seek political asylum. She said he worked in a number of jobs including as a chef’s assistant before becoming unemployed when the recession hit two years ago.
Ms Godfrey said the loss of his job coupled with a period of homelessness saw her client engage in heroin use and “petty theft”. She asked the court that if her client was sent to prison a requirement to receive residential treatment should be included as part the sentence.
Judge Aeneas McCarthy imposed consecutive sentences totalling 14 months. He backdated all sentences to January 11, 2012.