Youth claims trial to Low Yat Plaza handphone theft

KUALA LUMPUR: A 22-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing a smartphone from Low Yat Plaza.

Shahrul Anuar Abdul Aziz claimed trial at the Magistrate’s Court Tuesday to a charge of stealing a Lenovo phone S860 worth RM800 from a shop in Low Yat Plaza last Saturday.

He was charged under Section 380 of the Penal Code for theft which is punishable with a jail term of up to 10 years, a fine or caning.

DPP Suhaimi Ibrahim asked for bail of RM5,000, but Magistrate Aminahtul Mardiah Md Nor fixed the sum at RM3,000 and set Aug 14 for hearing.

The accused was clad in a grey T-shirt in court and appeared confused.

He said he did not understand the charge when it was first read out to him, which led to Aminahtul having to repeat it.

The accused then pleaded guilty and muttered "barang kes tak ada" (I don’t have the case evidence).

Aminahtul then asked him again if he admitted to the charge, at which point Shahrul then claimed trial.

According to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, two people were arrested at Low Yat Plaza for theft last Saturday, but one was later released by an investigating officer.

Khalid said that they had stolen a mobile phone from a kiosk, and on hearing cries for help, staff from another shop stepped in to catch them.

Following the incident, the released accomplice reportedly returned to the shopping complex with a group of seven and attacked those who had helped nab him and the alleged thief.

The duo’s claim of being cheated went viral, and later that evening, more than a hundred people gathered at the mall, eventually leading to a brawl that saw five people, including three journalists, injured.