KUCHING: A 24-year-old convenient store worker was sentenced to one year and one month in prison, and one stroke of the cane, by the Sessions Court here today after pleading guilty to a criminal breach of trust charge involving RM9,730.
Judge Iris Awen Jon imposed the sentence on Muhammad Nur Hanif Murad after he changed his plea to guilty during today’s trial to a charge under Section 408 of the Penal Code.
The court ordered the prison term to commence from the date of conviction, June 12.
Section 408 of the Penal Code provides for imprisonment of between one and 14 years, whipping, and a possible fine upon conviction.
According to the charge, Nur Hanif, who was employed as a store crew member at a well-known convenience store near Rock Road, 3rd Mile Bazaar, Padawan, committed criminal breach of trust between 10:00 pm on August 24, 2025, and 6:00 am on August 25, 2025.
He was entrusted with the store’s property and dishonestly took 47 Touch ‘n Go reload coupons worth RM200 each, two reload coupons worth RM100 each, one reload coupon worth RM50, one reload coupon worth RM30, as well as RM50 in cash.
The total loss suffered by the premises amounted to RM9,730.
In delivering the sentence, the court took into account prevailing sentencing trends as well as the amount of losses suffered by the employer.
During mitigation, the unrepresented accused pleaded for leniency, informing the court that he was the sole breadwinner for his family following the death of his father.
He said his mother was suffering from gallstones and that he was responsible for supporting her as well as his younger sibling, who is still studying at technical institution.
Nur Hanif, who also worked as a GrabFood rider, apologised for his actions and asked the court to consider that he was a first-time offender.
He claimed that he had been deceived by a man he knew and had attempted to recover the money from the individual.
However, Judge Iris noted that being deceived by another person did not excuse the offence of taking money and property entrusted to him by his employer.
In urging the court to impose an appropriate sentence, Deputy Public Prosecutor, Chuah Kai Sheng, submitted that the punishment should serve as a lesson to the public to preserve the integrity of employees entrusted with their employers’ property in the course of their duties.
The accused was unrepresented during the proceedings.
