4 men jailed for stealing various items from shops

KOTA KINABALU: Four men were given jail sentences ranging between five and 18 months by the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday for stealing items from shops.

Magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus imposed the sentences on Ali Putal Hangin, 62, Rianto Umbiah, 32, Marzuki Bidin, 31, and Khiruz Khalil Karl, 34, after they all pleaded guilty under Section 380 of the Penal Code.

The indictment carries a jail term of up to 10 years and would also be liable to a fine or whipping, upon conviction.

Marzuki received 18 months’ jail for stealing 10 butcher knives at a store in KK Plaza shopping mall here at 5.40pm on March 27.

Ali received 11 months’ jail for stealing two pieces of batik cloth at a handicraft, souvenir and jewellery shop worth RM86.70 at 6.50pm on April 8.

Rianto, who is jobless, was sentenced to 10 months’ jail for stealing 22 soap bars worth RM50 at a superstore in Putatan at 3.30pm on April 9.

In mitigation, Ali, Rianto and Marzuki, who were not represented, pleaded for a lenient sentence while prosecuting officer, Inspector Lim Swee Beng pressed for a deterrent sentence to be imposed against the accused persons.

The court also ordered for Ali to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving his sentence.

Meanwhile, Khiruz, who had a mental assessment report of fit to plea, admitted to stealing a fan at a supermarket in Tanjung Aru here at 4 pm on Feb 1.

He was sentenced to five months of jail with effect from yesterday.

Counsel Nurul Rafeeqa Afdul Mutolip, who represented Khiruz, told the court that Khiruz was a first-time offender and that no one was harmed during the incident.

Based on the facts of the cases, Marzuki and Ali were recorded stealing in a CCTV footage which showed that they had taken the items and put it inside their bags. Both were arrested on April 8. As for Rianto, an employer at the store saw him putting the soap bars inside his backpack and going out of the shop without paying for the items.

He then ran in an attempt to escape but was caught and brought to the police station for further action.