One month’s jail, RM1,000 fine for student who stole a sweater

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KUCHING: A Nigerian student was sentenced to a month’s jail and fined RM1,000, in default three months, after he pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday to shoplifting from a departmental store at tHe Spring mall here early this month.

The complainant had arrested a man suspected of having shoplifted a sweater which he wore when he walked out from the store, after removing the price tag.

The accused Nurudeen Mijinyawa Umar Kugama appeared before Magistrate Maris Agan who convicted him of a charge under Section 380 of the Penal Code which carried a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, fine or both upon conviction.

Nurudeen admitted before the judge that he had stolen a piece of Jack and Jones sweater worth RM50 from Padini at about 5.20pm on June 1.

Magistrate Maris ordered his jail term to take effect from the date of his arrest, which was the day he committed the offence.

Earlier, defence counsel Abdul Rahman Mohd Hazmin who defended the accused — studying at a local private varsity — said he had regretted his action and was remorseful.

Abdul Rahman said his client had another four months to complete his studies.

He had initially denied the allegation and claimed trial to the charge, but agreed to change his plea to guilty which saved the court time.

Inspector Yunus Sahak who prosecuted urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence against the accused.