KUCHING: A 24-year-old man was sentenced to a total of 16 months’ jail by the Magistrates’ Court here yesterday after pleading guilty to separate charges of theft and housebreaking committed in 2023 and 2025.
In the first case, Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan sentenced Erek Beckem Diondolly to two months’ jail from the date of conviction for stealing items from a pharmacy in Tabuan Jaya.
According to the charge, the accused, acting together with his accomplices still at large, committed the offence at about 3.53 pm on Nov 6, 2023; he was accused of stealing three tins of milk powder worth RM307.
The offence is under Section 380 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34 of the same Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years and a possible fine.
Facts of the case revealed that the accused and his accomplices entered the premises pretending to be customers, with one waiting outside while the others browsed items inside the shop.
One of them proceeded to the payment counter while the accused concealed the items under his clothing. Despite attempts by staff to stop him, he managed to flee the scene.
It was understood that the stolen items were sold at a shop in the Kenyalang Park area for RM50 per tin, and the proceeds were shared among them to purchase food.
In a separate case, Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali sentenced the same accused to 14 months’ jail for housebreaking with intent to commit theft.
He was charged under Section 457 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34, which carried a maximum sentence of 14 years’ jail and might also include a fine.
The offence took place at about 2 am on Feb 24, 2025, at a house at Jalan Stampin Baru.
The accused, also together with an accomplice still at large, broke into the house through a bathroom window and ransacked the premises.
Among the items stolen were an international passport, a Vivo mobile phone, branded bags, a wallet, five pairs of shoes, a watch, a makeup bag and RM7,000 in cash.
Court documents stated that the accused and his accomplice later rummaged through the stolen items at a bridge in Stutong Baru; some belongings were taken while others discarded into a river.
The accused received RM600 in cash from the loot, while other items such as the mobile phone and watch were taken by his accomplice.
Police investigations, including CCTV footage and fingerprint analysis, linked the accused to the crime.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Fauzulutfi Suriani and Muhammad Afiq Safly Nor Kazly prosecuted both of the cases while the accused was unrepresented.
