Man gets jail and fine for shoplifting

Kota Kinabalu: A 28-year-old unemployed man was on Tuesday jailed a total of 15 months and fined RM1,800 on three counts of shoplifting.

Rusli Mukarram, who was brought before Magistrates Lovely Natasha Charles and Jessica Ombou Kakayun pleaded guilty to committing the offence at different outlets in Centre Point Complex here on March 23, this year.

Rusli was sentenced to five months’ jail and fined RM800 or two months jail by Lovely for stealing six bottles of hair conditioners worth RM105.39 at the Watsons outlet, at 4.30pm.

He was jailed four months and fined RM500 or one month jail on the second count of stealing a shirt and a pair of trouser worth RM78 from the FOS outlet at 5pm.

Lovely ordered Rusli to serve the jail sentences from the date of his arrest.

On the third count, Jessica sentenced Rusli to six month’s jail from the date of his arrest and fined him RM500 or one month jail for stealing two shirts and a pair of trousers at Matahari Shop at 4.30pm.

The prosecution informed the court that Rusli, who was handed to police for committing the crime, admitted to taking all the items from the respective shops and walking out without paying.

Rusli, who was not represented, requested for a lenient sentence and told the court that he was forced to steal as he has no job and that he has a wife and two children to support.

The prosecution applied for an adequate sentence.

Rusli had committed an offence under Section 380 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 10 years and liability of whipping on conviction.

Meanwhile, a 75-year-old man claimed trial to a similar charge.

Sarail Manyuk was accused of stealing a smartphone belonging to one Kalsum Sarawie at 1.18pm on Dec 31, last year at the Platinum Marketing Water Filter Specialist in Putatan.

Lovely set April 23 for pre-trial case management and ordered Sarail to be remanded further as he has no identification document.

Inspectors Kelvan Elson Maik and Albert Basiri prosecuted.