KOTA KINABALU: Two men will each spend the next 16 months in prison for robbing a sports store.
The sentence was delivered on Azman Bilun, 35, and Mohd Khairin Amirin, 32, after both men pleaded guilty to the offence before magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie.
On December 16 at around 8am, both men stole sports items and everyday goods from Kedai Sukan 18, Golden Center Putatan, in the district of Penampang. The store belongs to Mariam George Matthew, 54.
The offence is framed under Section 457 and read together with Section 39 of the Penal Code and carries a maximum prison term of 14 years and a fine.
Based on the facts of the case, Miriam was informed by her workers that the store had been broken into.
Police, when investigating, discovered that the thieves had entered through the front door as there was only one way in and there had been no signs of a break-in.
The shop was closed at 5pm the previous day and the workers only discovered the break-in the next day.
The police then arrested two men who were employees of the store to facilitate investigation. Later, the police found the items which they had stolen.
During mitigation, Azman, who spoke on behalf of both men, asked for leniency, promising that they would not do such a thing again.