KUCHING: A car wash worker was sentenced to 12 years in prison by the Sessions Court here after pleading guilty to setting fire to tissue packets in two separate incidents at supermarkets here last month.
Judge Musli Abdul Hamid on Tuesday (Sep 2) sentenced Rizam Zawawi, 33, to five and seven years in prison respectively for the first and second charges, starting from the date of his arrest on Aug 25.
He was accused of committing mischief by fire by burning tissue packets, causing RM3,000 in losses at a supermarket on Jalan Liu Shan Bang, Kota Sentosa, here at 3pm on Aug 17 and at a Batu Kawa supermarket at 8pm on Aug 21, causing RM1,072.60 in losses.
The charges were brought under Section 435 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of 14 years and a fine upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Ruvinasini Pandian and Umi Syukriah Harun prosecuted the case, while the accused was unrepresented.
According to the facts of the case, the accused's modus operandi was to set fire to tissue packets and disposable diapers at the premises to distract staff in an attempt to steal other items.
At one of the premises, he managed to escape with a box of carbonated drinks, which was captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV), leading to his arrest. – Bernama
