Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick set to rest in Prison for 28 years

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 DETROIT, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- A federal judge gave former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick the sentence requested by prosecutors Thursday -- 28 years behind bars.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds said the evidence was overwhelming that Kilpatrick and his longtime friend, Bobby Ferguson, a contractor for the city, defrauded Detroit in a bid-rigging and kickback scheme, the Detroit Free Press reported. Ferguson is usually to be sentenced Friday.

"One thing is certain," Edmunds said. "It was the citizens of Detroit who suffered."

Testimony showed that Kilpatrick and Ferguson put pressure on city officials to keep their scheme running, Edmunds said. She also said Kilpatrick lived well while presiding over what has become one of the poorest cities in the United States. Detroit filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in July.

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Housemaid jailed 28 years for stealing N35m jewellery

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A housemaid, Mary John, has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for stealing her mistress’ jewellery estimated at N35m. The 30-year-old woman slumped moments after hearing the sentence, hitting her head against the carpeted surface of the court room. The impact shook the walls of the court room, but she was quickly resuscitated and carried out by prison warders. The convict had been arraigned since September 2012 on four counts of conspiracy, entry, breaking and stealing.

Her mistress, Mrs. Esohe Kadiri, a lawyer, said she stole wristwatches valued at N9m, bangles and bracelets worth N10m, diamond set worth N8m, rings worth N3m, chains and pendants worth N5m, and a camera priced at N100, 000, which all totalled N35, 100,000.The theft was said to have occurred in July 2012 at her residence in Victoria Garden City, Ajah. Kadiri, in her evidence before the court said John took advantage of her travel outside the country to perpetrate the theft.

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