KUCHING: A habitual criminal involved in break-ins was sentenced to 12 months in prison by the Magistrates’ Court here today (Mar 22) for breaking into a construction company, causing RM10,000 in damages.
Hew, 45, pleaded guilty to the charge read by the interpreter before Magistrate Mason Jaro Lenya Barayan.
According to the charge, he and another person, who is still at large, were accused of breaking into a construction company and stealing four computers, a mouse, two keyboards, two mobile phones, two hard disks, two power banks, a set of cosmetic bags, and three phone covers.
He committed the act at a construction office in Jalan Stutong Baru, around 7.06pm on March 3.
The accused was charged under Section 457 of the Penal Code and read together with Section 34 of the same code.
Based on the case facts, during the incident, the female complainant arrived at her office to find the lights and air conditioning turned on. Upon inspection, she found the back door of the office forced open and several items missing.
The estimated loss suffered was around RM10,000.
A police report was filed by the complainant for further action and investigation, leading to the arrest of the accused on March 8.
Investigation findings based on Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage revealed that the accused had broken into the complainant’s office and stolen items inside.
It is understood that the accused has five previous criminal records involving break-ins, two drug abuse offences, and one burglary case.
Meanwhile, Hew was also sentenced to one month in prison in the same court for possessing stolen property, an apron belonging to a food stall.
For that offence, he was charged under Section 411 of the Penal Code for possession of stolen property.
He committed the offence in the parking lot of the Kuching District Police Headquarters, Jalan Simpang Tiga, around 10.35am on March 20.
Prosecution for both cases was handled by Inspector Merylene Lindan Andrew Mang while the accused was not represented by a lawyer.
