Two men have been sentenced to eight months in jail and fined RM2,500 each for stealing canned coffee and perfume from a convenience store in Ipoh. Muhammad Shamsuddin Mohd Zakirin, a department store promoter, and Muhammad Syahril Iman Razman Hayaddi, a hotel worker, were convicted by a Magistrate’s Court on September 7. The sentence will be effective from their date of arrest on September 2. Magistrate Siti Nora Sharif warned that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional three months in jail.
They were charged under Section 380 of the Penal Code for theft, which carries a maximum of 10 years in jail and a fine if convicted. Both men pleaded guilty to the charges. Muhammad Shamsuddin faced an additional charge for stealing a canned drink on August 31 at the same store and received the same sentence.
Nurul Syuhada Mohd Yusof, a lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation, who represented the accused, pleaded for a shorter prison sentence, citing their responsibilities towards their parents and siblings. She stated that her clients earn a monthly salary of RM1,300 to RM1,500 and have promised not to engage in theft in the future.
When asked by Magistrate Siti Nora why they resorted to stealing, the two men admitted that their salaries were insufficient, and they wanted to sell the stolen items for extra income. Deputy public prosecutor Nur Aqilah Syaza Ariffin requested a jail sentence as a deterrent against repeating the offence. Both men were unable to pay the fine imposed by the court.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
