Kota Kinabalu: A former policeman was on Tuesday sentenced to 10 months jail’ for stealing a stainless steel water tank from a house in Manggatal.
Nizam Jaluddin, 32, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles to stealing the tank belonging to one Tan Peng Jeng at 8am on Sept 13, 2020 at a house in Taman Wijaya Park.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Dk Afiqah Alya informed the court that on the said day, the complainant was at his sister’s house nearby when he heard the sound of a dog barking from the direction of his house and later heard a sound as if a tank was being unloaded.
Tan rushed home and found a man, later identified as Nizam, lifting his stainless steel tank onto a pick-up truck.
Nizam who noticed Tan’s presence then sped off, the court heard.
The offence was framed under Section 379 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to seven years or fine or both on conviction.
Counsel Jul Hamri Jumhani, representing Nizam, requested a lower sentence on the grounds that he had been detained since last year due to his bail being revoked at the request of the prosecution.
Jul Hamri added that Nizam, who is married, was previously a police lance corporal and was in service from 2015 until 2019.
DPP Dk Afiqah pressed for a heavier sentence as a lesson to him and to other would-be offenders.
She also informed the court that Nizam’s bail was revoked in November 2021 and that he has two conviction records for disposing of stolen items and having stolen property offences.
The court ordered Nizam to serve the jail term from the date of his re-arrest on Oct 4, 2021.
Meanwhile, Nizam was also sentenced to seven months’ jail for taking syabu on May 7, 2021.
He was ordered to serve the sentence from the date of his arrest and that the jail term was to run concurrently with the theft sentence.
In another case, a 51-year-old man was fined RM1,500 or two months jail for trespassing into a house here.
Rosli Japar admitted to committing the offence at a Taman Istimewa, Luyang at 11.50am on March 14 this year.
He was charged under Section 448 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to three years or fine or both on conviction.
Inspector Kelvan Elson Maik prosecuted while Rosli was represented by counsel Marzuki Spawi.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.
* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.