In an act of brazen theft, 35-year-old Abdul Hafiz bin Haji Muhammad Irwan stole parts from a vehicle in broad daylight at Jaya Setia Square in Berakas, leading to his 25-month prison sentence and two whippings.
The theft occurred on January 29, when Abdul Hafiz, a local driver, arrived at the square around 10am and spotted a car belonging to a private college. After ensuring no one was in sight, he calmly dismantled and stole several valuable car parts, including the front splash guard, left and right mudguards, and fog lights, using tools he had brought with him.
The next day, a college maintenance officer noticed strange noises coming from the vehicle. Upon inspection, the missing parts were discovered, and CCTV footage quickly revealed Abdul Hafiz as the culprit. A police report was filed, leading to his arrest.
When questioned, Abdul Hafiz confessed to the theft, admitting he had installed the stolen parts on his own vehicle. The total damage to the college vehicle was estimated at BND1,403.87.
But the theft wasn’t the only crime. On February 4, Abdul Hafiz misled the police by claiming he had an accomplice named “Jep,” which prompted an unsuccessful search for the fictional individual. However, after being shown the CCTV footage, Abdul Hafiz came clean, admitting he had acted alone.
The court also took into account Abdul Hafiz’s past criminal record, which includes previous convictions for property-related offenses in 2016, 2017, and 2019.
In sentencing, Senior Magistrate Dewi Norlelawati binti Haji Abdul Hamid emphasised the premeditated nature of the theft and the defendant’s attempt to deceive authorities. Abdul Hafiz’s sentence will begin from the date of his guilty plea on February 8. – Fadley Faisal
