SIBU: The Magistrate’s Court here today (May 31) fined a 30-year-old man RM5,000 in default five months’ imprisonment for disposal of stolen property.
Magistrate Punitha Sivaraji passed down the sentence on Muhammad Rukaini Abdullah from Song after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
According to the charge sheet, the accused committed disposal of two pieces of copper rod and one roll feeder cable belonging to SACOFA Sdn Bhd, believed to be stolen property, at SACOFA Substation, Jalan Helang on May 19 at about 12.45pm.
The offence is punishable under Section 414 of the Penal Code which carries an imprisonment term up to seven years or fine or both upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Harvind Raja Gopal told the court that on May 19 at about 12.45pm, a police team while carrying out crime prevention patrol duties at Jalan Lada, stumbled upon a suspicious local man near the SACOFA Substation.
They then stopped him for examination and found a black bag in his possession which contained various items, including equipment suspected of being used for criminal theft activities.
Further inquiries and check found out the accused failed to give a reasonable reason and explanation for possessing the tools which included hacksaw blade, plier and cable cutter, cable roll, pieces of copper roll and roll of steel wire found on him.
The accused and the seized items were subsequently brought to the central police station for further investigation and action.
On May 24, the complainant who is the technician of SACOFA, discovered that the connection site, SACOFA, Jalan Helang, had one unit of earthing system missing and suspected stolen.
DPP Harvind further told the court based on investigation outcome, on May 19, the police conducted a crime prevention at the area and found the accused having in his possession the items that were useful for cutting and forcing break-in.
On May 24, the complainant found that there were signs of damage at the site where there was a cutting of one unit of copper cable and one unit of feeder cable delivering and installing system of shielded underground cable. These missing materials were suspected to have been stolen.
The complainant also identified that the two pieces of copper rod and one roll feeder cable were the same shielded cable that was cut off at the connection site of SACOFA, Jalan Helang.
The accused was unrepresented by any legal counsel. He had to serve the default sentence as he could not pay the fine.
