Kota Kinabalu: A 25-year-old Filipino who trespassed into a restaurant and stole five lobsters and 15 grouper fish worth RM5,000, was jailed seven years.
Lajah Musah pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Hurman Hussain, to the charge against him on Wednesday.
He had trespassed into the House Crab Restaurant in Jalan Gaya in Lorong Haji, here on Dec 24 this year at 5am and stole the lobsters and grouper fish belonged to RD Eldon John.
Lajah had committed the offence under Section 457 of the Penal Code which provides for a jail term of up to 14 years, on conviction. In asking for leniency, Lajah who was not represented, told the court that he married and has three children to look after.
He asked for the sentence to be served from the date of his arrest.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Fazriel Fardiansyah Abdul Kadir urged the court to hand down a deterrent sentence considering the seriousness of the case in which the complainant had suffered about RM5,000.
The court ordered Lajah to serve the jail sentence from the date of his arrest and referred to the Immigration Department after completing his jail sentence.
The court heard that the complainant who is the restaurant operation manager, was informed by his worker that the restaurant was trespassed.
Further checking, the complainant found that there were pry marks on the door and later lodged a police report.
He also found that five lobsters and 15 grouper fish were missing.
Following the police report, Lajah was arrested at the Safma Market, here.
