A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to one month’s imprisonment and fined RM1,500 (in default one month’s jail) after pleading guilty to stealing premium beef and seafood from a supermarket in a shopping centre along Jalan Canna.
Mohammad Hanim Suita admitted to the offence before Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan, which falls under Section 380 of the Penal Code, carrying a maximum penalty of up to 10 years’ jail and a fine upon conviction.
The incident occurred around 12.30am on June 1, when a complainant at the premises noticed the accused behaving suspiciously as he exited the supermarket area.
The complainant, assisted by a security guard, later detained the man after suspecting he had taken items without paying.
Checks on the accused revealed several food items, including Australian Wagyu beef cuts and salmon trout, believed to have been stolen and placed in a basket on his motorcycle.
He was subsequently handed over to police for further investigation and charged in court.
In mitigation, the accused appealed for a lighter sentence, claiming he had intended to resell the stolen items to raise money for medical treatment for a sexually transmitted infection.
However, the prosecution urged the court to impose a sentence proportionate to the seriousness of the offence.
The accused was not represented by legal counsel during proceedings.
