Man in Kuching gets 10 months’ jail for entering house to commit theft

KUCHING (Sept 18): The Magistrates’ Court here today sentenced a man to 10 months in jail after he pleaded guilty to a charge of house-trespass with the intention to commit theft.

Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan meted out the sentence on Mohd Syafiq Abdullah, 27, after the charge under Section 457 of the Penal Code was read to the accused.

The Section provides imprisonment for up to 14 years upon conviction.

Mohd Syafiq committed the offence at a house in Jalan Sultan Tengah here at around 1.30am on Sept 16, 2024.

Based on the facts of the case, the 64-year-old owner discovered his house in a mess and that a stranger had entered the premises through a bathroom window.

Realising the owner’s presence, the intruder took off but was arrested by police at around 2.55am the same day near Kampung Haji Gobil following a report lodged.

During the arrest, Mohd Syafiq was found covered in bruises, believed to have been assaulted by members of the public.

The case was prosecuted by ASP Arman Ibrahim, while the accused was not represented by legal counsel.