Mechanic with two wives jailed for stealing coffee

KOTA KINABALU: A mechanic with two wives was jailed for 14 months and fined RM2,000, in default, two months’ jail by the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday for stealing three bottles of Indocafe and a bottle of Nescafe .

Abdul Saum Kaum, 45, who pleaded guilty as charged under Section 380 of the Penal Code, said “saya curi untuk sendiri minum” (I stole only for my own consumption) when asked by magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus on why he stole the items.

The unrepresented accused, who told the court that he has two wives and six children, four of whom are schooling, was arrested at a hypermarket at City Mall shopping building on July 13.

Prosecuting officer Inspector Mohd Rasydan Jasni told the court that on the day of the incident, a house detective at the hypermarket, saw the accused on close circuit television (CCTV) standing at the racks where the bottles of drinks were arranged.

He then saw the accused take the items and put them into his sling bag. He immediately informed a security guard to stand by and detain the accused.

The accused was later stopped at the exit by the security guard who conducted a search on him, during which he took out something from his sling bag and threw it away, saying “nah, ambillah” (here, take it).

A scuffle and chase ensued when the accused tried to escape but he was quickly apprehended with the help of the public.

In a separate case, a man was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment by the same court for assisting in disposing of a stolen washing machine.

Sharizal Durasim, 31, admitted to helping dispose of the stolen item at a house at Kampung Tebobon in Menggatal on July 9.

He was convicted under Section 414 of the Penal Code which is punishable with a jail term of up to seven years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

The facts of the case stated that the accused had bought the washing machine from two men soon after they stole it from its owner’s house.

The owner of the machine confirmed that it was his machine and the accused was arrested by the police for further investigation.