A woman without employment was sentenced to a two-week jail term and fined RM2,000, with a one-week jail term in case of non-payment, for the theft of 25 units of chocolate valued at RM210 in the Magistrates’ Court today.
Magistrate Zubaidah Sharkawi delivered the verdict after Khalimahtul Saadiah Mohd Ali, aged 30, pleaded guilty to a charge filed under Section 380 of the Penal Code. This section stipulates a maximum imprisonment of 10 years and a fine upon conviction.
The incident occurred at a supermarket near Jalan Sultan Tengah around 5.40 pm on Sunday, where Khalimahtul was apprehended by a supermarket employee and a security guard. Their actions were prompted by the store’s anti-theft alarm, which activated when Khalimahtul attempted to leave the premises.
Upon instruction from the store employee, Khalimahtul re-entered the supermarket, causing the alarm to sound once more. Subsequently, the store’s head of security was informed, and Khalimahtul was taken to the security room for further examination. During this process, 25 units of chocolate were found in her bag.
The incident was reported to the police, leading to an investigation that confirmed Khalimahtul’s theft of the chocolates. The case was prosecuted by Insp Nur Shafiqa Nyaie Ilin, while Khalimahtul did not have legal representation during the proceedings.
In an increasingly challenging economic environment, incidents like these raise questions about the link between rising unemployment and petty crimes. Are punitive measures, such as a two-week jail term and a RM2,000 fine, the most effective response to such cases, or should there be more focus on addressing the underlying issues that may drive individuals to commit these acts?
Source: Adapted from Borneo Post Online