Kota Kinabalu: Three paperless Filipinos were sentenced to 16 months’ jail on Tuesday for attempting to steal cables belonging to a telecommunication company worth RM83,470 in Manggatal.
Labourers Mahil Ismail, 41, Edwin Bidin, 36, and Haslan Sakaril, 31, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Jessica Ombou Kakayun to trying to steal the cables belonging to Telekom Malaysia at 12.05am on March 29 near the traffic light, Kg Tebobon.
They were charged under Section 379/511 of the Penal Code.
Prosecuting Officer Inspector Albert Basiri told the court that the three were found by patrolling police inside the TM’s manhole and were suspected of attempting to steal the cable inside.
A hacksaw was also seized from the trio, said the prosecution.
Further investigation by Telekom’s contractor found several cables were cut, which have not been taken out of the manhole.
Unrepresented, the trio requested a lenient sentence by saying that they have a family to support.
The Magistrate ordered them to be referred to the Immigration Department after that.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani shop assistant claimed trial for having 211 boxes of contraband cigarettes.
Anwar Islam pleaded not guilty to having the RM3,407.20 worth of contraband cigarettes at 3pm on Jan 13 this year at Bibi Aishah Jaya Sdn Bhd grocery at Kg Sonduou, here.
The charge under Section 135 (1) (d) of the Customs Act is punishable under Section 135(1)(v)(aa) which carries a fine of not less than five times the amount of items or RM100,000 or a maximum jail of five years or both, on conviction.
The prosecution in applying for a case management date proposed bail at RM10,000 in two sureties.
Unrepresented, Anwar applied for a lower bail on the grounds that he is suffering from diabetes and that he is married to a local and have been in the State for six years.
The court set May 11 for mention and released Anwar on a bail of RM3,500 in two sureties.
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