Kota Kinabalu: Three unemployed men were sentenced to six months’ jail and fined RM1,000 or jailed two months for stealing communication cables.
Sanasi Jonip, 35, Tutu, 38, and Robi Robok, 21, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus to committing mischief by cutting cables belonging to Telekom Malaysia on March 17, this year, at 10.15pm, by the roadside near the Tang Dynasty Park Hotel, Jalan Belia and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, here.
The trio jointly committed the crime along with an accomplice still at large.
They were charged under Section 431A of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to two years or a fine or both, on conviction.
The prosecution, in presenting the facts of the case, informed the court that on the said day, an enforcement team, during an asset monitoring patrol of Telekom Malaysia, discovered that the cover of a Telekom Malaysia manhole was left open.
Upon investigation, four men were found inside.
The complainant contacted the police who apprehended three of the individuals, while one escaped.
Tools used in the crime, along with two cut lengths of cable found inside the manhole, were also seized by the authorities.
Police investigations revealed that the three men had entered the Telekom Malaysia manhole to steal, together with an accomplice who remains at large.
Inspector Mohamad Hamidi Mohamad Hamzah applied for a deterrent sentence.
The court ordered the three to serve the sentence from the date of their arrest and ordered Robi, who was undocumented, referred to the Immigration Department thereafter.
In another case, two individuals were penalised for having gambling paraphernalia.
Kevina Fify, 28, and Nonoi Julbasa, 76, pleaded guilty separately to committing the offence under Section 9(1) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.
Kevina was fined RM800 or jailed three days for engaging in lottery gambling activities without a licence on Feb 23, this year, at 5.30pm, outside a restaurant in Inanam town.
Nonoi was ordered to pay a fine of RM600 or seven days’ jail for purchasing two illegal lottery tickets on Feb 19, this year, at 6.15pm, at a restaurant in Inanam town.
In Kevina’s case, she was arrested by a police team who discovered illegal 4D and Wahui gambling activities being run by her, after approximately 10 minutes of surveillance.
Gambling paraphernalia were seized from Kevina, including a handphone, the court heard.
Meanwhile, in Nonoi’s case, he was also arrested by the police, who had conducted 10 minutes of surveillance at the location. He was found involved in illegal gambling activities.
Gambling paraphernalia, including two illegal lottery tickets that Nonoi had purchased, were also found on him when he was searched, said the prosecution.
The charge against Kevina and Nonoi provides for a fine of up to RM5,000 or a jail term of up to six months or both, on conviction.
