TAWAU: A 21-year-old local man was sentenced to 12 months’ jail by the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday for stealing a Honda EX5 motorcycle at Pasar Raya Hill Top, Jalan Utara here.
Magistrate Ferhanshah Farene meted out the sentence on Mohd Khairi Bin Robert who pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 379A of the Penal Code and read together with Section 34 of the same Penal Code which carries a jail term of not less than one year and not more than seven years and a fine, if convicted.
The accused committed the offence at about 8.30pm on November 30 with another person still at large. He had stolen the motorcycle bearing number ST1669P belonging to Abdul Malik Bin Hamit, 26.
According to the facts of the case, the accused, with his friend known as Manchoi, were hanging around at Hill Top that night when they saw the motorcycle park beside the market, and wanted to steal it.
Manchoi then asked the accused to be on the lookout while he broke a lock and connected the starter wires of the motorcycle.
Manchoi then moved the motorcycle back and asked the accused to step on the kick starter.
When the engine was switched on, Manchoi rode the motorcycle towards his house at Kampung Empang, Pasir Putih while the accused sat as a pillion rider. Unfortunately, the complainant’s younger brother named Ahdam Bin Hamit saw the motorcycle, and after it was parked and the duo had gone into the house, Ahdam went nearer to see the motorcycle and was able to identify it as belonging to his brother. He then shifted the motorcycle to another place about 50 meters away from Manchoi’s house.
Ahdam then sought help from the villagers to call Manchoi but Manchoi ran away leaving the accused who was then detained by the villagers.
The police arrested the accused and seized the motorcycle for further investigation. Inspector Mohd Hafiz Abdul Rahman prosecuted the case.