SIBU: A 54-year-old man was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment by the Magistrates’ Court here on Tuesday (Sept 8) after pleading guilty to stealing toiletries and reading glasses from a pharmacy in Jalan Central.
Magistrate Romario Jonoi ordered the sentence for Goh Yii Liong of Jalan Ulu Sg Merah to take effect from the date of his conviction.
Goh was charged under Section 380 of the Penal Code for committing theft in a building, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine upon conviction.
According to the charge sheet, Goh committed the offence between 9.14pm and 9.20pm on Sept 1 at PMG Pharmacy, Jalan Central.
The stolen items, valued at RM152.25 in total, comprised three 450ml bottles of Antabax Hand Soap, seven 10ml bottles of Eye Glo Eyemo, one 1L bottle of Dove Body Wash, five 20g boxes of Mopiko Ointment, one unit of Victoria Reading Glasses, and one bottle of Palmolive Shower Gel.
Based on the facts of the case, the complainant discovered the items missing on Sept 4 before reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, which showed Goh taking the items off the display shelves and leaving without making payment.
A police report was lodged on the same day, leading to Goh’s arrest at approximately 9.19 pm at the premises by a team from the Sibu Criminal Investigation Department, led by Inspector Adip Azizi Rosli.
During the investigation, police also seized the clothing worn by Goh during the incident, as identified in the CCTV footage, pursuant to a statement recorded under Section 27 of the Evidence Act 1950.
The unrepresented accused pleaded guilty after the charge was read out to him through an interpreter.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Syazani Izzaddin Abdul Muadzam prosecuted the case.
