KOTA KINABALU: A single mother was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment for stealing one-trolley of rice packs belonging to her employer.
Sylviona Vallencie, 31, who works as a supervisor pleaded guilty before Magistrate Wan Farrah Farizza Wan Ghazali today.
She was charged with committing the offence with a male accomplice, who was still at large, on Oct 23 at 8pm, at the Servay Express Api-Api Centre.
The offence, under Section 380 of the Penal Code, provides imprisonment of up to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine, upon conviction.
Based on the facts of the case, Sylviona and the man took out one-trolley rice packs from Servay Express Api-Api Centre without making payment. There were witnesses who saw the incident and Sylviona's actions were also recorded by the CCTV.
Other witnesses tailed Sylviona and the man as they exited the supermarket until they placed the rice packs into a car.
During mitigation, National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) lawyer Carmen Khoo who represented Sylviona asked for leniency, saying among others that the accused is a divorcee and had three young children aged between three and six years.
Khoo said, Sylviona also supported her younger sister who has autism. She added that the accused was a first-time offender and remorseful.
To a question from the court, Inspector Albert Basiri who prosecuted the case said that the rice packs were not recovered and the losses amounted to RM24,875.81.
Meanwhile, another two employees of the same supermarket were also charged with stealing and abetting.
A sales assistant, Rosdie Rosman, 26, was accused of stealing one-trolley rice packs at the same time and place.
Supervisor Fabian Julian, 37, was charged with two counts of abetting Sylviona and Rosdie in committing the crime. He was charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code.
Both Rosdie and Fabian who were represented by YBGK Lim Ming Zoong @ Lawrence pleaded not guilty to their respective charges.
The court fixed mention date between Dec 1 and 13 for Fabian and Rosdie. They were granted RM3,000 bail with two local sureties for each charge.
