Convenience store robber gets 48 months’ jail and whipping

KUALA LUMPUR: He had been going around robbing convenience stores and getting away with boxes of cigarettes, prepaid reload cards and cash.

However, Siah Chee Ming was finally nabbed by the police, ending his robbing spree.

The 43-year-old jobless man appeared before Sessions Court judge Emelia Kaswati Mohamad Khalid here yesterday and pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery.

He also pleaded guilty to six counts of robbing convenience stores in another court but the cases were fixed for sentencing on another day.

In Emelia Kaswati’s court, Siah admitted to robbing a KK Mart in Taman Intan Baiduri, Kepong, and taking 15 boxes of cigarettes at 12.18am on July 28.

Siah, who was unrepresented, told the court that he had two children.

“I don’t have a job. My wife doesn’t have a job. My children don’t go to school. I am in a lot of trouble,” he said.

On Aug 1, he robbed a 7-Eleven in Jinjang Utara by threatening the cashier with a knife and taking RM154 from the cash register.

The next day, he robbed KK Supermart and Superstore in Taman Kepong and got away with six boxes of cigarettes and two prepaid reload cards worth RM60. The total amount in loot was worth RM830.

When asked by the judge if he had a prior record, Siah admitted that he was in prison in 2003 for “burning a phone”.

DPP Siti Aisyah Ahmad asked the court to mete out a sentence that served as a lesson to the accused.

According to the statement of facts, Siah would pretend to buy the items before running away with the goods after the cashier had scanned the items.

He did not cover his face during the robberies, thus the victims could identify him promptly during the police line-up.

Emelia Kaswati sentenced Siah to 48 months in jail and to be caned twice for the offences.

The jail time runs from the date of his arrest.

He was charged under Section 392 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum 14 years’ imprisonment and a fine or whipping, upon conviction.