Man fined RM3,500 for cable theft attempt

KUCHING: The Magistrates’ Court here fined a man RM3,500, in default six months in prison, for attempting to steal cables belonging to Sesco Bhd.

Magistrate Mason Jaro Lenya Barayan handed down the sentence to Syafiqal, 28, after he pleaded guilty to the charge under Section 379 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 511 of the same Code.

He committed the offence at a Sesco substation in Jalan Sungai Maong here around 4.18am, on July 18.

According to the case facts, police received a call from a Sesco employee reporting that the substation alarm had sounded.

Subsequently, police and two Sesco auxiliary policemen were dispatched to the scene and arrested Syafiqal as he was attempting to steal the cables while his accomplice managed to flee the scene.

Further examinations found that Syafiqal was in possession of chisels, pliers, cable ties, a cutter, a cordless drill and a motorcycle.

Investigation found that he was at the substation with intention to steal cables.

Insp Merylene Lindan Andrew Mang prosecuted the case while Syafiqal was unrepresented by counsel.