New storekeeper jailed for stealing snacks

KOTA KINABALU: A storekeeper, who had just worked for three months, was jailed for five months by the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday for stealing RM1,575 worth snacks from a shop.

Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie imposed the sentence on Siti Nor Khalidah Budi Huseng, 26, after the latter pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 381 of the Penal Code.

The indictment provides for a jail term of up to seven years and a fine, upon conviction.

The unrepresented accused admitted to stealing 24 packets of chocolates plus another three bottles also containing chocolates and a big packet of chewing gums from the shop in Putatan on November 27, 2017.

Prosecuting officer Inspector Suzie @ Stephanie Kupit told the court that the accused’s boss, 31, came to know that one of his workers, which was later known as the accused, was stealing the items when he saw CCTV recordings at the shop.

The prosecution also said that the recordings showed that the accused had taken out RM1,275 worth of chocolates and the chewing gums valued at RM300 from the shop before selling them to someone.

Apart from that recordings, the accused’s employer had also investigated the matter with another of his staff.

In pleading for a lenient sentence, the accused claimed that her husband had left her and is now pregnant and has three kids to look after.

In reply, the prosecution urged the court to give a deterrent sentence to the accused.

The magistrate ordered the accused to serve her jail term from yesterday.