KUALA LUMPUR: A mother of two who was jailed for two months for stealing groceries from a supermarket has been released after the High Court here reduced her sentence to six days, or time served.
Justice K. Muniandy made the decision on Friday (April 25) after finding that the jail sentence handed down to Lini Ahmat, 38, by a Magistrate's Court on April 21, was disproportionate to the offence.
"The accused admitted that she stole out of desperation and the jail time she has served, six days, is sufficient. The accused is released today," Justice Muniandy said, adding that the court used its jurisdiction to review the earlier decision.
Before reducing the sentence, he asked Lini several times if she was aware that stealing was an offence, and also advised her to find a job to support herself and her family.
Lini acknowledged her guilt and said she had repented.
She also said that she would get a job as a cook in the food court of a mall after her release.
Earlier, DPP Izalina Abdullah said the sentence handed down to Lini was excessive according to the current sentencing trends, where accused who plead guilty to petty theft would be sentenced to a fine or a week in jail.
Lawyer Collin Andrew of the National Legal Aid Foundation, representing Lini, said his client had repented and regretted her actions and asked for the earlier sentence to be replaced with time served since her arrest on April 19.
"The facts of the case show that most of the stolen items were food and necessities. There was no loss involved because all the goods were seized and returned to the supermarket," he said.
On Monday (April 21), Lini was charged with stealing 30 items including snacks, personal care products and daily necessities worth RM374.69 from a supermarket in Brickfields.
The charge was filed under Section 380 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine, if convicted. – Bernama
