TAWAU: A former plantation supervisor was sentenced to 12 months in jail and one stroke of the cane by the Sessions Court here on Tuesday after pleading guilty to criminal breach of trust involving 10 sacks of Borate fertiliser.
Muhammad Iqhwan Pehang, 27, was sentenced by Judge Ahmad Faizadh Yahaya after pleading guilty to committing the offence at an area in Kg Rancangan Batu 22 in June 2026.
The accused, who was a plantation supervisor with Morotai Plantations Sdn Bhd, Balung, Tawau, committed criminal breach of trust by selling 10 sacks of Borate fertiliser worth RM810 belonging to the company to another party for his personal benefit without the company’s permission.
The prosecution was made under Section 408 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than 14 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction.
According to the facts of the case, a 40-year-old complainant conducted an internal audit at the Morotai Plantation Office and found elements of criminal breach of trust after discovering that fertiliser and pesticides meant solely for estate use were suspected to have been sold, resulting in losses amounting to RM12,240.
Investigations found that the stock checks and records of fertiliser and pesticide usage did not correspond with the company’s records.
The accused, who was responsible for all plantation operations, then voluntarily admitted that he had sold some of the missing fertiliser and pesticides without the company’s knowledge for his personal benefit.
The company later found 10 sacks of its Borate fertiliser bearing the company’s official markings, including “FOR NCS GROUP ONLY YEAR 2026” and “NOT FOR SALE”, stored at a chicken coop in Kg Rancangan Batu 22 belonging to Sahadan Nurdin.
Sahadan said he did not know that the fertiliser was not for sale as the accused had told him that the fertiliser belonged to him and that he wanted to sell it at a low price.
Sahadan then paid the accused in cash.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Haikal Hazwan Md Yatin conducted the prosecution, while the accused was unrepresented.
