Thief has to eat stolen bananas

Farmer metes out punishment to give 38-year-old a second chance

A THIEF (pic) was forced to eat the bananas that he had stolen, Guang Ming Daily reported.

The punishment was meted out by a farmer on the 38-year-old thief after he was caught stealing the fruits.

The incident happened at about 11am on Saturday in Sitiawan.

The man was found stealing by an orchard worker who alerted the owner, known only as Huang.

Huang managed to catch the suspect with the help of his friend and found the loot on him.

The thief claimed it was his first time stealing the bananas and pleaded with the owner to give him a chance.

Huang said he decided not to call the police as he wanted to give the man a second chance.

“He is young. I hope he will repent,” he said.

> Sales at duty free shops in Langkawi are expected to drop between 40% and 50% following a recent Customs Department’s new ruling on bringing out liquor, cigarette and beer from the island, Kwong Wah Yit Poh reported.

The new ruling only allows tourists to bring the three items out of Langkawi if they are purchased from the Langkawi airport or jetty.

Those who bought the items from other duty free shops in the islands are only allowed to consume them within the island.

According to a shopping centre manager Huang Qing Hai, previously most tourists would buy cigarette and liquor to take back home.

Huang said there were not many tourists who would consume whatever they bought in large quantities within the island so the sales at his shop had been affected.

Langkawi Chinese Chamber of Commerce would call a press conference in Alor Setar today to voice their concerns over the new ruling.

Sin Chew Daily quoted Langkawi Chinese Chamber of Commerce chairman Lee Han Eng as saying that the authority had informed the operators about the new ruling.