SABAK BERNAM: The pisang goreng vendor, who pleaded guilty to abducting two young girls in Jeram, told the court that he did it "because he wanted a daughter".
Mohamad Shahriza Othman, 31, was sentenced to 24 months in jail and fined RM2,000. He must spend another month in prison if he fails to pay the fine.
During the case proceedings at the Sungai Besar Magistrate's Court on Thursday (July 25), he informed the lawyer, Muhd Muqri Mohd Khairi from the National Legal Aid Foundation, that he abducted the two girls because he did not have a daughter.
"I was informed that the accused only has two sons and has not yet been blessed with a daughter," he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.
Muhd Muqri said Mohamad Shahriza had no previous criminal record.
"I believed he has repented," he said.
Mohamad Shahriza had pleaded guilty to the charge read before Magistrate Siti Hajar Ali. He was charged under Section 363 of the Penal Code.
According to the charge sheet, Mohamad Shahriza had, at around 6.30pm on July 19, abducted two girls aged eight and six years at a house in Jalan Ikan Emas 2, Taman Ikan Emas in Jeram.
Based on the case facts, Mohamad Shahriza abducted two girls playing in front of their house by taking them in a car.
He was said to have invited the girls to accompany him to deliver a letter and offered them RM50 as a reward.
Mohamad Shahriza then took the girls to a grocery shop before taking them for a ride around Jeram. He also took the girls to his house before returning them to their home at around 7.45pm.
Siti Hajar, during sentencing, said the accused immediately pleaded guilty after the charges were read, showing remorse and repentance.
"The sentence imposed by this court must prioritise public interest to serve as a lesson to the accused and the public that abduction is a very serious and increasingly widespread offence," she added.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Sofea Jaysal prosecuted the case.
