Kota Kinabalu: A 30-year-old unemployed man, who trespassed a government house to stay as he has no place for shelter after losing his job as a waiter, was sent to prison for five months.
Juanson Olol pleaded guilty before Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles to trespassing the unit at Kinabalu government house here at 2.30 am on Oct 12.
The prosecution informed the court that Juanson was arrested by a police patrol unit, after receiving a call from the district central command.
During mitigation, Juanson through a duty counsel told the court that he committed the offence because he lost his job and wanted to return to his hometown at Kg Pitas in Kota Marudu but that he does not have sufficient money for bus fare.
He said it was the reason why he decided to stay in the deserted house so that he can save cost and also because he has no money. He said that Juanson had been staying in the said house for at least a week before he was arrested and that it was his first offence.
Counsel Lim Ming Zoong @ Lawrence, who represented Juanson, applied for a lenient sentence on the grounds that Juanson is currently jobless but at the same time still supporting his parents.
Inspector Kelvan Elson Maik applied for an adequate sentence.
Juanson was charged under Section 448 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to three years or up to RM5,000 fine or both on conviction.
He was ordered to serve the sentence from the date of his arrest.
In another case, three men were charged with taking drugs.
However, no plea was recorded from the men aged between 24 and 28, as the chemist’s reports were not ready.
The prosecution in applying for another mention date proposed bail at RM3,000 in two sureties each while the accused applied for a lower bail amount.
The court fixed mention date between Nov 17 and Dec 14 pending the chemists’ reports and offered the accused bail between RM1,200 and RM1,000 in two sureties.
The three were charged under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which provides for a fine of up to RM5,000 or up to two years jail on conviction.
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