KUCHING: A 30-year-old man was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment by the Magistrate’s Court here today for stealing a battery back in May of this year
Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan handed the sentence to Franky Linggi, ordering that the jail term commence from the date of his conviction, July 2.
Franky committed the offence under Section 379 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum imprisonment term of seven years, or a fine, or both upon conviction.
According to the charge, Franky stole a 12V DC battery belonging to Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) at Taman Mei Lee, at about 11:00 pm on May 12.
The court was told that SEB personnel were alerted after an alarm was triggered at the Mei Lee Garden substation.
Upon arriving at the site, the complainant and a colleague spotted an unknown man inside the fenced substation compound.
Frankie at the time attempted to flee but was successfully apprehended outside the substation fence by the complainant and his colleague together with items believed to be linked to the theft.
The incident resulted in an estimated loss of RM1,000 to SEB.
Police from the Kota Sentosa Police Station later re-arrested the accused after he was handed over by the complainant.
Among the items seized were the stolen 12V DC battery, a Phillips screwdriver, an adjustable wrench and a pair of blue-handled pliers.
Investigations established that the accused had stolen telecommunications-related components from the substation, disrupting the operation of the communication network facilities.
Inspector Nur Shafiqa Nyaie Ilin prosecuted the case whereas the accused was unrepresented.
