Man who tried to steal fizzy drinks from Kuching grocery store fined RM2,500

KUCHING (Jan 2): The Magistrates’ Court here has fined a 25-year-old man RM2,500 in default three months’ imprisonment for attempting to steal two cartons of grape-flavoured carbonated drinks from a grocery store.

Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan convicted Awang Muhammad Sapudan Awang Mohamad Jull on his own guilty plea to a charge under Section 379 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 511 of the same Code.

Section 379 carries a prison sentence of up to seven years, or a fine, or both upon conviction, while Section 511 stipulates that any imprisonment term imposed shall not exceed one-half of the longest term prescribed for the offence.

The attempt was committed in front of a grocery store located on Jalan Stapok here at 1.21am on Tuesday.

According to the facts of the case, police headed to the scene after a report was lodged regarding a theft attempt at the grocery store.

Investigations revealed that a security guard foiled Awang Muhammad Sapudan’s attempt to steal the drinks and apprehended him.

The guard subsequently handed him over to the police for further action.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showed Awang Muhammad Sapudan attempting to steal the items.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Fauzulutfi Suriani appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was unrepresented by legal counsel.

Ahmad Fauzulutfi Suriani Kuching Magistrates' Court lead Ling Hui Chuan