Kota Kinabalu: The Magistrate’s Court here sentenced a 27-year-old man to 18 months in jail for stealing a handphone from a woman here last week.
Azir Madayah pleaded guilty before Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie to stealing the gadget from one Yuliana Patalang at the Laundry 24 hours premises at Metro Town, at 12.15pm on March 8.
The prosecution told the court that the complainant, a cleaning worker, placed the handphone on a table as she wanted to thumbprint on a device for a break.
Azir, who was hiding nearby, took the opportunity and grabbed the handphone and ran away, said the prosecution.
However, Azir was caught by a security guard who heard the complainant cried for help, heard the court.
Azir was charged under Section 379 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to seven years on conviction.
In another case, a 29-year-old man was jailed eight months for obstructing a policeman from discharging his duty.
Mohd Shahrien Abd Majid admitted to committing the offence at Kg Air here at 6.05pm on March 7, this year.
The prosecution, in tendering the facts of the case, told the court that prior to the incident, the police tried to stop a car driven by a man, later identified as Shahrien, for not fastening a seatbelt while driving but Shahrien drove off.
The police, who chased Shahrien, arrested him at Kg Air, the court heard.
Shahrien was charged under Section 186 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to two years or fine or both on conviction.
Inspector Suzie @ Stephanie Kupit prosecuted.
