KOTA TINGGI: A housewife was slapped with a RM35,000 fine by the Magistrate’s Court here for stealing a total of RM130,000 from her mother.
Norhasikin Abu Bakar, 31, pleaded guilty to two charges when they were read before judge Hidayatul Syuhada Shamsudin at the Pengerang court here.
For the first charge, she was accused of stealing RM100,000 by using her 67-year-old mother’s Lembaga Tabung Haji THiJARI application with the intention of taking the money for personal use. The offence was committed at Felda Gugusan Adela on Aug 21.
For the second charge, the woman was accused of stealing RM30,000 by using her mother’s bank card with the same intention in Bandar Penawar on the same day.
She was charged under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years’ jail or a fine or both upon conviction.
Before sentencing, Norhasikin, who was unrepresented, asked for a lighter sentence, citing that she had no income while her husband also does not have a fixed income.
However, prosecuting officer Insp Nor Ayu Hidayah said a heavy sentence was needed as a deterrent as the RM130,000 loss was suffered by the accused’s own mother, and the money has yet to be recovered.
The court then imposed a fine of RM20,000 for the first charge and RM15,000 for the second charge, with two years’ jail in default of payment.
Norhasikin paid the fine.
