KUCHING: A 29-year-old was slapped with a RM900 fine in default three weeks’ imprisonment for trespassing into a house.
Zulkeri Ismail pleaded guilty to the charge before Magistrate Portia Tham Ong Leng yesterday.
He committed the offence at a house at Jalan Kedandi, Lorong 4 belonging to Myra Concepta Matjeraie Nee Lynam, 59, between 12.01am and 3pm on Aug 5, 2009.
Zulkeri was convicted under Section 448 of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment or fine up to RM5,000 or both.
In mitigation, the accused told the court that it was raining heavily so he stopped there to take shelter.
Zulkeri said he had leaned on the glass wall. His fingerprints found on the wall and a police investigation led to his arrest.
According to the facts of the case, the complainant found her house had been broken into. Her neighbour told her they saw two lorries going out from the premises with all the furniture and other goods. The lorry drivers told the neighbour hat the houseowner had sold the house.
During police investigation, eight fingerprints were found on the cabinet and wall of the house which the police sent to the laboratory for analysis. One of them matched that of the accused’s. The accused was therefore arrested on July 6, 2009.
He settled the fine yesterday.
Inspector Austin Patrick Angkon prosecuted while defence counsel Lim Lian Kee defended Zulkeri.