Man jailed, fined for shoplifting

KOTA KINABALU: A man was sentenced to 12 months in jail and RM500 fine, in default, one month's imprisonment by the Magistrate's Court here yesterday for stealing perfume from a shop.

Magistrate Mohamad Aizat Abdul Rahim imposed the sentence on Clement Kiwit, 49, after the latter pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 380 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 10 years and shall also be liable to a fine, upon conviction.

The accused was arrested for taking away the item worth RM100 without making any payment at the shop at a shopping complex here on March 15.

The facts of the case stated that the complainant found that a group of men entered the shop as customers but when they went out, the sensor installed at the entrance door of the shop, rang.

The complainant shouted to the said group but only managed to get one of them who was the accused.

The complainant had checked the accused's beg and found the item inside.

In a separate case, an unemployed man was jailed for 16 months by the same court for trying to steal a cellphone from a lorry.

Remmey Roslan admitted to attempting to steal the gadget which was charging in the lorry parked in front of a restaurant in Telipok, Manggatal on December 27.

The accused was convicted under Section 379, read together with Section 511, both of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to three and a half years or a fine or both, upon conviction.

The prosecution told the court that during the day of the incident, the complainant, who is a scrapped metal collector parked the lorry outside the restaurant but left the driver's door window opened.

The complainant went out of the lorry to buy something to eat but when he came back, he found that the accused had tried to take the cellphone by inserting his hand at the opened window.

The complainant shouted “thief” which was heard by the public nearby who came to assist him to catch the accused who had fled the scene.

The complainant together with the public managed to catch the accused, who then led the complainant to where he threw the gadget.

In mitigation, the accused prayed for a lenient sentence saying that this was a first time offender and upon being asked by court on who was supporting him, the accused explained that since he is jobless, his family is supporting him.