| Hakim Hayat |
A SERIAL robber serving time in jail and two other defendants were yesterday produced in the Intermediate Court for a string of housebreaking cases committed in the Brunei-Muara District between March and July last year.
The first defendant, Haji Maswadi bin Pungut@Ismail, 34, who in August last year was sentenced to eight years’ jail on 10 charges of housebreaking and stealing, is now being charged for similar offences committed at three different houses in Kampong Sungai Tilong on March 15 and 18, in Kampong Kiulap on August 4, and in Kampong Belukut on July 31.
He committed the crimes while out on bail during his ongoing trial last year and was sentenced to jail and whipping of the cane on August 19, 2016. He pleaded guilty to the charges yesterday.
Meanwhile, three other accomplices – Muhammad Hermy Fadzel bin Hassan, 32; Siti Noorasyidah binti Haji Osman, 19, and Mohd Aidil bin Haji Ibrahim, 41 – were also charged alongside Haji Maswadi for breaking into a house in Kampong Sungai Hanching on July 1, 2016 and stealing a Rolex watch and $800.
Muhammad Hermy Fadzel and Mohd Aidil pleaded guilty to the charges, while Siti Noorasyidah pleaded not guilty. Based on a testimony given by the first defendant that she was not involved in the crime, Siti Noorasyidah was exempted from the investigations and trial.
Haji Maswadi and Muhammad Hermy Fadzel were also charged with stealing from a house in Kampong Sungai Belukut on July 31, taking with them valuable items including electronic devices such as cameras, mobile phones, laptops and jewelleries.
Police investigations revealed that the first defendant and his accomplices targeted homes that were quiet and unoccupied at random hours of the day.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Danial bin Dato Seri Paduka Haji Kifrawi stated that Haji Maswadi would be dropped off by his accomplices and would gain entry into the unoccupied houses by means of either slamming open the door, taking off sliding windows or prying open window grills with a crowbar.
Police investigations also revealed that the items stolen by Haji Maswadi would be given to his accomplices, who would sell or exchange them for drugs. Several items were recovered by the police, while the cash was never recovered.
On record, Haji Maswadi and Muhammad Hermy Fadzel have no previous criminal convictions.
Judge Radin Safiee bin Radin Mas Basiuni adjourned the trial to tomorrow morning to allow for further mitigation on the case by the defendants.
Haji Maswadi, a former uniformed personnel and father of four with his former wife, had three previous convictions for robbery, house break-in and mischief before his sentencing in August last year.
All defendants are being charged under Section 380 of the Penal Code, Chapter 22 for theft in a dwelling, which carries imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and a fine, and also alternative charges under Section 454 of the Penal Code, Chapter 22 for trespassing to commit an offence, which carries imprisonment that may extend to five years (10 years for theft) and whipping, and Section 457 of the Penal Code, Chapter 22 for housebreaking which carries a five-year jail term (that may extend to 15 years for theft) and whipping.
