KUCHING: The Sessions Court here sentenced a car washer to 12 years in prison for setting fire to tissue packages in two supermarkets in separate incidents.
Rizam Zawawi, 33, from Kapit, pleaded guilty before Judge Musli Abdul Hamid to two charges framed under Section 435 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of 14 years and a possible fine, upon conviction.
On the first charge, he was accused of committing mischief by fire at a prominent supermarket in Jalan Liu Shan Bang, causing RM3,000 in losses at around 3pm on Aug 17.
For the second charge, he was accused of committing the same offence at another supermarket in Batu Kawa, resulting in losses of RM1,072.60 at around 8.30pm on Aug 21.
Judge Musli sentenced Rizam to five years in prison for the first charge and seven years for the second, with both terms to run consecutively from the date of his arrest on Aug 25.
According to the case facts, Rizam’s modus operandi in both incidents was to set fire to tissue and disposable diaper packages using a lighter inside the supermarkets to create chaos before stealing items.
In the Batu Kawa incident, he managed to escape with a carton of canned soft drinks without being noticed by store employees.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) recordings captured his acts of mischief in both supermarkets. Police reports were lodged against him and it led to his arrest on Aug 25.
The case was prosecuted by deputy public prosecutors Ruvinasini Pandian and Umi Syukriah Harun while Rizam was unrepresented by counsel.
