A 27-year-old local man was sentenced to 16 months’ jail on Thursday for a theft attempt using criminal force.
The case was related to a recent incident that went viral on social media.
The defendant, Noraluidin bin Nordin, was looking for a job at a laundromat in Kampong Kilanas sometime after 8pm on July 15, according to the prosecutor.
The prosecution revealed that the defendant was walking past the front entrance when he noticed a woman sitting in the laundromat with a branded bag on her lap. This enticed the defendant to steal it from the woman.
The defendant pounced on the victim and grabbed the bag, only to realise the woman had the bag’s sling wrapped around her.
The victim fell off her seat as the defendant pulled the bag and a scuffle ensued between Noraluidin, the victim and her son, who was accompanying her at the time. Another laundromat-goer stepped in to help.
During the scuffle, the bag’s strap tore off, causing the victim’s wallet to fall onto the floor.
The victim and her son also sustained injuries.
The defendant rushed to grab the wallet but was retrieved by the laundromat-goer, who detained him with the assistance of public members.
The police was alerted and the defendant arrested shortly afterwards.
Prosecutor Syazwani further informed Magistrate Syaffina Shahif that the defendant had committed the offence out of desperation. The prosecution further revealed the defendant’s record, which included seven previously theft-related convictions and one conviction for cheating in 2018. – Fadley Faisal
