MELAKA: A 39-year-old delivery worker was sentenced to nine months’ jail by the Magistrate’s Court here for stealing a woman’s undergarments from a self-service laundrette.
Magistrate Nur Afiqah Radhiah Zainurin meted out the punishment after Mohammad Hamdan Awal pleaded guilty to the charge yesterday.
Mohammad Hamdan was charged with stealing six items of underwear belonging to a 26-year-old woman at a laundrette in Taman Tanjung Minyak Setia at about 2.30am on Oct 11.
The charge was framed under Section 380 of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine upon conviction.
According to the statement of facts, the victim’s husband discovered that a total of six of his wife’s undergarments were missing after using the laundrette’s washing machines.
Upon reviewing CCTV footage from the laundrette, he spotted the accused stealing his wife’s bras and underpants, prompting him to lodge a police report.
The court heard that the accused had stolen the garments for his own sexual gratification.
Prosecuting officer Insp Nur Zaidah Muhamad Zailani sought a deterrent sentence, citing the nature of the items stolen and the accused’s motive.
The accused was represented by lawyer Amritpal Singh.
Nur Afiqah ordered the accused to serve his sentence from the date of his arrest on Oct 16.
