The Magistrate’s Court yesterday sentenced a local man to 20 months’ jail for stealing from a restaurant and a convenience store in Berakas.
Magistrate Nur Eleana binti Dato Seri Paduka Haji Hairol Arni took into account Mohammad Sahdini bin Mohammad Doon’s non-repentant nature as he committed the offences fresh out of prison in 2022.
The court also gave weight to the fact that the offences were premeditated.
On the defendant’s guilty pleas towards the two charges, Prosecutor Abdul Hanan bin Haji Erwan revealed that the defendant drove to a restaurant at Kampong Orang Kaya Besar Imas just after midnight on September 21.
The defendant forced open the door of the restaurant by breaking the locks.
He made away with five gas cylinders with four gas regulators and a grill stove. The defendant loaded the items into his car and unloaded them in the parking space below his mother’s apartment in Kampong Serasa.
The defendant retrieved the stolen items the following day to be sold off.
He received BND110 from selling three of the gas cylinders along with the gas regulators. On September 22 at 3am, the defendant drove to a convenience store in Kampong Anggerek Desa where he parked up front.
A CCTV at the shop caught footage of the defendant in action. Prior, the defendant took off the car’s licence when he noticed the CCTV.
The defendant then saw a storage area loaded with goods outside the shop.
He searched the area and found a metal rod, which he used to pry open the door to the storage area.
He then took 11 large sacks of rice, each containing five smaller bags.
The defendant then brought the stolen goods to his mother’s apartment.
Later in the afternoon, the defendant sold a large sack of rice for BND42.50.
Both incidents were reported by victims to the police, leading to the defendant’s arrest. – Fadley Faisal
