SIBU: Three sisters were sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment by the Magistrates’ Court here on Thursday (July 2) to a charge of jointly stealing groceries worth RM828 from a supermarket.
Magistrate Romario Jonoi handed down the sentence on the accused – Ngui Mee Kah, 22, Mee Lang, 25, and Mee Ing, 26, from Bintangor – after they pleaded guilty to the joint charge under Section 380 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Code, for committing theft in furtherance of a common intention.
According to the prosecution represented by DPP Nuralisa Natasha Nazrulzam, the trio allegedly committed the offence at about 2:17 pm on June 20 at CCL Fresh & Mini Market in Lorong 29, Jalan Teku, here.
Investigations revealed that the accused allegedly stole 48 cans of Pawada brand corned beef and six one-kilogramme packets of Aji-No-Moto seasoning, with the total value of the stolen items estimated at RM828.
The theft came to light after the supermarket owner reviewed CCTV recordings and discovered the missing items before lodging a police report.
Police arrested two of the accused on June 27 after they were detained by the complainant at the supermarket.
A subsequent operation on June 29 led to the arrest of the third accused at an unnumbered house in Jalan Kwang Hock, Bakong Maradong, Bintangor.
During the operation, investigators also seized clothing believed to have been worn by one of the suspects during the commission of the offence.
Police said CCTV footage clearly captured the movements of all three accused inside the supermarket and has since been seized as evidence.
However, the stolen goods were not recovered as they had allegedly been sold before the arrests were made.
The case was prosecuted under Section 380 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34, which provides for an imprisonment of up to 10 years as well as liable to fine.
The accused, who had no legal representation, were ordered to serve the sentence from the date of conviction.
