The Intermediate Court yesterday sentenced three local men to prison for committing house trespass and theft in a residential area of Tutong District.
Judge Harnita Zelda Skinner handed Mohamaad Taqiyuddin bin Awang Taha, 38, and Mohamad Ezuzuan bin Kesah, 42, two years and six months in jail. Meanwhile, Mohammad Roslan bin Kesah, 38, was sentenced to two years in jail.
According to Prosecutors Abdul Musawwir bin Mahli and Aeny Zullizam, the incident occurred in June.
The trio, all single and unemployed, devised a plan to commit theft at a house in Kampong Penabai, Tutong. The plan was formed while they gathered at a friend’s house in the same village.
The court heard that on the night of the crime, sometime between 11pm and 6am, the defendants walked through a forested area and entered the victim’s property through a fallen gate, gaining entry to the house via the back door.
Once inside, they ransacked the premises in search of valuable items. Mohamaad Taqiyuddin stole a grass-cutting machine from the living room, while Mohamad Ezuzuan took a box containing a PlayStation 2 and 44 CD games from the kitchen. The stolen items were carried back to their friend’s house, where Mohamaad Taqiyuddin was staying, with Mohammad Roslan helping to transport the grass-cutting machine.
The crime was discovered on July 3 when the house owner visited the property and noticed it had been ransacked.
Suspecting a break-in, he lodged a police report.
Investigations led to the arrest of the three men. During questioning, Mohamaad Taqiyuddin and Mohamad Ezuzuan admitted to their involvement in the theft, with Mohammad Roslan acknowledging his role in helping carry the stolen items. The stolen items were recovered by the police.
In court, it was revealed that Mohamaad Taqiyuddin and Mohamad Ezuzuan each had previous convictions for property-related offences, with records dating back to 2013, 2016, 2003 and 2019.
Mohammad Roslan, however, had no prior convictions.
The sentences were handed down as a deterrent against future criminal activity, reflecting the severity of the crime committed by the trio. – Fadley Faisal
