KUCHING: A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment by the Magistrates’ Court here today (Mar 2) after pleading guilty to stealing a motorcycle late last month.
Magistrate Mason Jara Lenya Barayan meted out the sentence on Ericson Uding Agnes after convicting him under Section 379A of the Penal Code.
The offence carries a punishment of imprisonment for up to seven years and is also liable to a fine upon conviction.
According to the charge, he committed the offence on Feb 24 at about 3.53 am at Taman Desa Wira, where he stole a red Honda EX5 motorcycle.
The court heard that a police report was lodged later that morning at about 10am by the complainant on behalf of his friend, whose father owned the motorcycle and was in Brunei at the time of the incident.
The motorcycle had been parked inside the compound of a house before it was discovered missing. The loss was estimated at approximately RM500.
Following investigations, a police team from the Padawan Criminal Investigation Department (CID) conducted an operation under Op Lejang on Feb 26 at about 10.30 am within the same area.
During the operation, police arrested the accused at the premises and seized a red Honda EX5 motorcycle matching the chassis and engine numbers of the reported stolen vehicle.
Investigations, including CCTV footage, revealed that the accused had committed the theft. He was subsequently charged under Section 379A of the Penal Code.
The case was prosecuted by the Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Aidil Akmal Sharidan, while the accused was unrepresented.
