Kota Kinabalu: A businesswoman was fined a total of RM2,600 by the Magistrate’s Court on two counts of giving false statement to police and losing her pistol last year.
Datuk Jessie Tang, 55, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Jessica Ombou Kakayun on Friday to committing both offences.
Tang was fined RM1,800 or three months jail on the first count of giving false statement to police by alleging that her car was broken into and the firearm that was placed inside the car was stolen, with the intention of causing civil servants to conduct an investigation.
She committed the offence at 2.26pm on Oct 25, 2022 at the Karamunsing Police Station.
On the second count, Tang was fined RM800 or one month’s jail for losing a SIG Sauer 238 27B pistol, which she was lawfully authorised to have, at 7.30pm on Oct 25, 2022 at the Kota Kinabalu police headquarters.
The first charge under Section 182 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to six months or fine up to RM2,000 or both on conviction, while the second count, under Section 35 of the Arms Act 1960 provides for a jail term of up to one year or fine of up to RM1,000 or both, if convicted.
The magistrate was informed by the prosecution that the police found the report lodged by Tang which alleged that the incident occurred at the Filipino market at 8.30pm on Oct 24, last year was false following a thorough investigation when Tang failed to identify the exact location of the purported car park and that the parking lot was allocated only for traders.
Police investigations revealed that Tang’s action was because the licensing department of the police department had asked her to renew her firearms licence as she had yet to do so and she could not find pistol, the court heard.
The prosecution added that Tang felt that her act of lodging the report would cover all her wrongdoings and not be held responsible for the loss of the weapon.
Counsel Pg Amli Noraufe Datuk Pg Nohin, representing Tang, requested for a lower fine on the grounds that she was a first offender and that she assist the community a lot.
Deputy Public Prosecutors (DPP) Nurul Shafeerah Mad Iskim and DK Afiqah Alya PG Johari applied for an adequate sentence.
In another case, an unemployed man was jailed 12 months for having a stolen motorcycle.
Datu Sukri Datu Abdul, 23, admitted before Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles to having the stolen Yamaha 135 LC motorcycle belonging to Azmin Siarun at 3am on Feb 5, this year in front of a restaurant in Putatan.
The prosecution told the court that the machine was reported missing at the mosque here on Feb 1.
The offence under Section 411 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of between six months and five years and fine, on conviction.
In another case, a 46-year-old woman was jailed two weeks and fined RM1,000 or two months’ jail for attempted theft.
Unemployed Suhaila Liunaldu pleaded guilty to trying to steal four pieces of chopping knife at the Mr D.I.Y shop at Imago Mall at 4.29pm on Feb 2.
The court heard from the prosecution that Suhaila’s action was seen on the CCTV where she hid the knives in between her shirt and walked out without paying.
Suhaila was detained outside the premises and handed over the knives to the shop’s workers.
Charged under Section 379 read with Section 511 of the Penal Code, Suhaila was ordered to serve the sentence from the date of her arrest.
Inspector Kelvan Elson Maik prosecuted.
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