Single mother fined RM2,000 for theft of branded clothes

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MIRI: A single mother of three children was jailed for two months and fined RM2,000 in default two months’ jail by a magistrate’s court yesterday for stealing branded clothes from a shopping complex here on Jan 31.

Senior assistant registrar Md Syafique Md Hilmie passed the sentence on Wong Bee Geok, 51, after she pleaded guilty to the offence.

The unrepresented Wong admitted stealing 45 pieces of branded shirts worth about RM4,590 from one of leading shopping complexes here at 1.45pm on Jan 31.  She was convicted under Section 380 of the Penal Code which provides for a mandatory jail term of up to 10 years and a fine upon conviction.

Earlier in pleading for leniency, Wong told the court that she has three children, the youngest one 17 still at school and lives with her.

“I pray that the fine is reduced and that there is no jail term as I have to take care of my children. I don’t have any other sibling to help me look after my school-going daughter,” she said.

Md Syafique meanwhile said the offence is a serious one. However, he granted Wong’s application for a stay of execution pending her appeal to the High Court. Prosecuting officer was Inspector Mohd Khairi Mohd Noor.