KUCHING: A repeat offender was fined a total of RM7,800 by the Magistrates’ Court here after he pleaded guilty to attempting to steal telecommunications cables and taking drugs.
Zarkuan Sazali, 38, was ordered to serve a total of 19 months’ imprisonment in default of payment.
For the latest offence, he was fined RM3,500 or six months’ jail in default by Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan after admitting to attempting to steal cables belonging to a telecommunication company.
According to the facts of the case, the offence took place at about 5am on Mar 17 in Kampung Tanjung.
Zarkuan, along with several unidentified individuals, had arrived in two vehicles and attempted to retrieve cables believed to have been cut earlier.
However, they were noticed by villagers, who confronted them, forcing the group to flee the scene before they could take the cables.
Following police intelligence and operations, the accused was arrested at a house in Petra Jaya at about 1am the next day.
Police also seized several items, including two mobile phones, and a Perodua Myvi vehicle.
Investigations further revealed that the accused’s actions were captured on video, which supported the charge of attempted theft under Section 379 of the Penal Code read together with Section 511 of the same Code.
In separate proceedings, the accused was also fined RM2,000 or seven months’ jail in default by the same magistrate for a drug offence committed in 2011.
In another case heard before Magistrate Mason Jaro Lenya Barayan, he was fined RM2,300 or six months’ imprisonment in default for a similar offence committed in 2021.
Upon completing sentences, he was also ordered to undergo police supervision for two years.
Case facts showed that in both drug cases, the accused tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine following urine screening tests, with laboratory analyses confirming the presence of the substances.
Both offences were charged under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a penalty of a fine of up to RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to two years, as well as mandatory supervision upon completion of the sentence.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Ahmad Fauzulutfi Suriani and Chuah Kai Sheng prosecuted the cases separately.
