Man who tried to steal power cables in Kuching fined RM3,500

KUCHING (July 24): The Magistrates’ Court here today fined a 28-year-old man RM3,500 in default six months’ jail for attempting to steal cables belonging to Syarikat Sesco Berhad (Sesco).

Syafiqal Majelan pleaded guilty before Magistrate Mason Jaro Lenya Barayan after he was charged under Section 379 of the Penal Code read together with Section 511 of the same Code.

The Section provides for a jail term of up to seven years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

Syafiqal committed the offence on July 18 at a substation near Jalan Sungai Maong here at 4.18am.

Based on the facts of the case, a police officer received a call from Sesco employees reporting that the substation alarm had gone off.

Police and two Sesco auxiliary police personnel went the substation and caught Syafiqal attempting to steal cables from the premises.

However, Syafiqal’s friend managed to escape from the scene.

Further inspection around the substation found a chisel, pliers, cable ties, a motorcycle, a cutter, and a cordless drill.

The investigation found Syafiqal was at the substation with the intent to steal cables belonging to Sesco.

Insp Merylene Lindan Andrew Mang handled the prosecution while Syafiqal was unrepresented by legal counsel.