BY Fadley Faisal

The Intermediate Court handed a sentence of three years and four months’ jail with two strokes of the cane to a local man yesterday after he pleaded guilty to charges of theft and housebreaking.

Muhammad Hardi bin Hamidon pleaded guilty to a charge of theft, housebreaking and housebreaking for theft before Judge Pengiran Hajah Norismayanti binti Pengiran Haji Ismail.

Prosecutor Ahmad Firdaus Mohammad revealed that the defendant first struck a house in Jalan Pandan 1, Kuala Belait on November 20, 2021 where he stole six CCTV cameras.

A neighbour lodged a police report after seeing the defendant climb over the gates and leaving with a plastic bag.

Police investigations aided by CCTV footage led to the defendant’s arrest.

It was found that the defendant went to the house twice on the same day and made away with the CCTV cameras.

A year later, between November 22 and 24, the defendant broke into the same house.

He made away with a 40-inch LED TV.

The court was also informed that the defendant acted out of pressure by his accomplices.

Judge Pengiran Hajah Norismayanti doubted that the defendant was left with no choice, and further reflected the prevalence of such cases as well as the defendant’s previous convictions before handing her sentence.

Two local men, who are co-accused, have claimed trial in the same case.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bullletin