Kota Kinabalu: A 34-year-old jobless man was jailed eight months by the Magistrate’s Court, here, Wednesday for attempting to steal metal components belonging to Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB), last year.
Andry pleaded guilty before Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin to attempting to steal iron busbar components from a feeder pillar at SESB’s storage compound in Tanjung Aru at 12.59am on March 3, 2024, by unscrewing them with a screwdriver.
He was charged under Section 379 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 511 of the same Code.
Inspector Yusdi Basri, prosecuting, informed the court that a police report was filed earlier that day after SESB personnel discovered missing parts from a feeder pillar.
Later that night, a security guard alerted SESB’s patrol unit after spotting a man inside the fenced compound tampering with the metal components.
When SESB officers arrived and viewed CCTV footage, they saw a man, later identified as Andry, removing the metal busbars and placing them outside the feeder pillar.
As they moved in, Andry tried to flee but was caught after a short chase. A sling bag containing tools used to dismantle the components was seized, and the loss was estimated at RM500.
Unrepresented, Andry asked for leniency, stating that he has three school-going children. Yusdi pressed for a deterrent sentence.
The court ordered Andry to serve the jail term from the date of his arrest, and for the feeder pillar component to be returned to its owner.
Under Section 379, theft is punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine or both, while Section 511 provides that an attempt to commit an offence is punishable with up to half of the maximum imprisonment term prescribed for the full offence.
Meanwhile, a 23-year-old man with three prior convictions for theft was jailed five months for having house-breaking tools in his backpack.
Hazmil Abdul Kadir pleaded guilty to possessing the items found in his backpack on Sept 16 this year, at the roadside of Jalan Tuaran opposite Taman Putra Perdana, Telipok.
Among the items found were seven tools, including a flashlight kit, a pair of wire cutters, two wrenches, a hacksaw, and a multipurpose knife.
Yusdi informed the court that on the said day, a police patrol team conducting crime prevention rounds along Jalan Tuaran noticed two men, one of them later identified as Hazmil, walking suspiciously by the roadside.
Upon inspecting Hazmil’s backpack, the police discovered the tools suspected to be intended for housebreaking.
A record check revealed Hazmil had three previous convictions under Section 380 of the Penal Code for theft.
Hazmil was arrested by the complainant with the help of call signs.
He was charged under Section 18(e) of the Minor Offences Ordinance, which carries a jail term of up to six months, on conviction.
Unrepresented, Hazmil pleaded for leniency, stating that his parents have expectations of him.
The prosecution sought a deterrent sentence.
The Magistrate ordered Hazmil to serve the sentence from the date of his arrest and directed the prosecution to dispose of the exhibits.
