SIBU: A 51-year-old man was committed to prison after failing to pay a RM5,000 fine imposed by the Magistrate’s Court here today for stealing a radiator from a vehicle repair workshop.
Peter Bom from Sungai Menyan, who was unrepresented, pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 379 of the Penal Code before Magistrate Romario Jonoi.
The court sentenced him to a RM5,000 fine, in default six months’ imprisonment.
As the accused failed to settle the fine, he was ordered to serve the custodial sentence.
According to the charge, Peter stole a radiator belonging to Nicholas Jagger Leonard Layan at Lot 3878, Jalan Dung Sang School, here at about 1:13 am on July 2.
The facts of the case revealed that at about 5:00 am on the same day, the complainant received a notification from the CCTV system installed at his vehicle repair workshop.
Upon checking the live footage through his mobile phone, he noticed two unidentified men inside the premises. He later found that a radiator and two extension cords, measuring three metres and 10 metres respectively, had been stolen.
Police investigations led to Peter’s arrest by a team from the Sibu District Police Headquarters’ Criminal Investigation Department along Jalan Sing Ling at about 11:00 am on July 5.
Investigators established that the accused had stolen the radiator before selling it to another man.
The recovered radiator was subsequently identified by the complainant as the one stolen from his workshop, confirming ownership of the item.
The case was prosecuted by prosecuting officer, ASP Sokolinkam Changgan.
Section 379 of the Penal Code carries a punishment of up to seven years’ imprisonment, or a fine, or both upon conviction. Repeat offenders are also liable to whipping.
