KUCHING: A man was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment by the Magistrates’ Court here today for stealing a motorcycle last Tuesday (Sept. 15).
Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan handed down the sentence to Abdul Rasid Ahmat Ahmad after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
The accused was ordered to serve the sentence from the date of conviction.
He was charged under Section 379A of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Code, for stealing a Modenas Kriss motorcycle belonging to the 31-year-old complainant.
The offence under Section 379A of the Penal Code carries imprisonment of between one and seven years, as well as a fine.
The offence was committed at about 2:48 am on September 15 at the parking area in front of an aquarium shop near MJC Batu Kawa.
The court heard that the motorcycle, which was valued at about RM1,500, had been left locked with its handlebar lock and secured with an additional chain around the rear wheel at the five-foot way of the building.
The theft was discovered by the complainant at about 7:00 am that day.
Based on CCTV footage from the scene, Abdul Rasid was seen at the location with two other men who remain at large.
The footage showed an accomplice taking the motorcycle while Abdul Rasid and another accomplice assisted in removing and taking it away from the location using a Toyota-type van.
Investigations found that the three suspects had acted together, with each playing a role in taking and removing the motorcycle from the scene.
On September 19 at about 10:50 pm, a Padawan District Police Headquarters Task Force team arrested Abdul Rasid in front of a baby store near Jalan Setia Raja, Tabuan Jaya, here.
The van, which was believed to have been used in the theft, was also traced and seized for investigation.
At about 12:20 am the following day, Abdul Rasid brought police officers to a bushy area at Kampung Kudey Dungun, Jalan Nanas Barat, where an incomplete motorcycle frame was found.
The motorcycle frame was subsequently seized and brought to the Batu Kawa Police Station Task Force office for further action.
Deputy Public Prosecutor, Muhammad Afiq Safly Nor Kazly, appeared for the prosecution while the accused was unrepresented.
