Man jailed for disposing of stolen smartphone

KOTA KINABALU: A man was jailed 16 months by the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday for disposing of a stolen Asus smartphone.

Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie imposed the custodial sentence on Azwie Azman, 25, after he pleaded guilty to the offence during his pre-trial case management, yesterday.

Azwie had disposed of the stolen property which belonged to another man at an unnumbered house at Kampung Inanam at 7.30pm on November 9.

The offence was framed under Section 414 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to seven years or a fine or both, upon conviction.

In mitigation, the counsel, who represented the accused under the National Legal Aid Foundation, prayed for a lenient sentence to be imposed against her client who is currently serving a custodial sentence for an offence of possessing drugs.

She informed the court that this was the accused’s second offence and the accused has a sick mother and two siblings to support.

Prosecuting officer Inspector Suzie @ Stephanie Kupit applied for a deterrent sentence to be imposed against the accused.

Based on the facts of the case the mobile phone was reported missing at a hospital here and the accused had sold it to another man at a price of RM70 only.