Duo jailed, fined for stealing manhole covers

KOTA KINABALU: Two men were jailed a total of six months and fined RM2,000 each by the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday for two joint charges of stealing iron manhole covers belonging to two premises in Penampang.

Magistrate Mohd Aizat Abdul Rahim passed the sentences on Zainal Abidin Cappi, 26, and Amran Medin, 36, after they pleaded guilty to the charges under Section 379, read together with Section 34, both of the Penal Code.

The indictment carries a jail term of up to seven years or a fine or both, upon conviction.

On the first count, the court sentenced the duo to three months’ imprisonment each plus RM1,000 fine, in default, one month’s jail for stealing five manhole covers belonging to the management of a business park in Penampang, on December 11.

The two accused received the same punishment for the second charge of stealing another three manhole covers for drainage and sanitation pipe at Jalan Penampang bypass on December 8.

The magistrate ordered them to serve their jail terms consecutively.

In a separate case, a man was jailed for six months and fined RM1,500, in default, one month’s imprisonment by the same court here for possessing four stolen gas cylinders.

Syarizzan Boamin, 30, who pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 411 of the Penal Code, was arrested for committing the offence at an unnumbered house at Kampung Batangan in Tuaran, on December 15.

In an unrelated case, Choo Min Choi was fined RM25, in default, one week’s jail after he admitted to committing unruly behaviour outside a building at Kampung Air here on December 9.

The court also ordered the accused, aged 48, to pay RM500, in default, three weeks’ jail compensation to the owner of the building.

Prosecuting officer Inspectors Suzie@ Stephanie Kupit and Papilus Primus appeared for the prosecution.