A 28-year-old local man was sentenced to six months in prison after he pleaded guilty to stealing a handbag at a shopping centre in Kampong Rimba on March 1.
Abdul Azim bin Haji Yusof was caught on CCTV footage stealing the handbag belonging to a cleaner at the premises. The victim had placed her bag on a chair while taking a break, to find it missing upon returning. She immediately reported the theft to her supervisor, who reviewed the CCTV footage with security personnel.
Magistrate Muhammad Qamarul Affyian bin Abdul Rahman heard from Deputy Public Prosecutor Atikah Husaini that the footage showed the defendant taking the bag and leaving the premises through the back door. He proceeded to a nearby recreational park, where he stole the contents of the bag, including a mobile phone, BND10 and MYR1, before discarding the bag in a drain.
Police investigations led to the defendant’s arrest, during which he admitted to the theft. He revealed that he had taken the bag with the intention of stealing its contents and used the cash for personal expenses. The mobile phone was kept for his own use, while the stolen money was spent on an Easi card and food. – Fadley Faisal
