REMBAU: A 28-year-old former plantation assistant manager has been sentenced to one month in jail and fined RM10,000 by the Magistrate's Court here for stealing 9,370kg of oil palm fruit.
R. Nageswaran did not contest the charge after it was read to him before Magistrate Redza Azhar Rezali on Tuesday (April 7).
The court also ordered the accused to serve an additional six months in jail if he is unable to pay the fine.
The accused, previously employed at a plantation in Gemas, was charged with stealing the fruits which belonged to his employer at around 5.30pm on Feb 12.
Nageswaran was charged under Section 381 of the Penal Code for theft, which carries a jail term of up to seven years and a fine upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Fidha Misjedi asked the court to impose a sentence commensurate with the crime as the accused's employer suffered over RM7,000 in losses.
Nageswaran's lawyer, Norfazrin Jamal from the Legal Aid Department, pleaded for a lighter sentence.
He said the accused lost his job following the theft and was remorseful for his actions.
