The Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday ordered a local to settle a BND1,500 fine after he pleaded guilty to shoplifting.
Adi Sahirunwandi bin Sahbudin, 37, would have to serve two months imprisonment in default of payment.
The defendant planned to sell the stolen items to fund his car repair, according to Prosecutor Abdul Musawwir bin Haji Awang Mahali.
The defendant left home with his 14-year-old son to a department store in Mulaut at 5pm on August 14.
He brought with him a reusable bag with the department store’s illustrations, took a trolley and grabbed groceries. He then transferred the items into the shopping bag.
Magistrate Nur Eleana heard the prosecution reveal that the defendant mostly took frozen meat. He also took a canned drink on the way out and paid for it.
Before he could exit the store, two store employees asked for proof of payment for the items in the bag.
Prosecutor Kamal Ariffin bin Ismail, who also represented the Public Prosecutor in the case, added that the defendant did not comply and was brought to the loading area at the back of the store.
A duty manager was alerted and questioned the defendant. He pleaded for them to let him go.
The defendant ran towards the exit but was again detained by store employees. The police was alerted who arrested the defendant.
