A former commando has pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking into a mosque’s bilal room and stealing money from the donation box at the Melaka Magistrates’ Court.
Mohd Zaidi Mohtar entered the plea after the charge, framed under Section 448 of the Penal Code, was read out before Magistrate Nur Afiqah Radhiah Zainurin.
According to the charge sheet, he was accused of entering the bilal room of Masjid Al Wathoni in Bukit Pegoh, Bukit Larang, Telok Mas, illegally at 2am on Aug 11.
RM70 reported missing
Facts of the case stated that the complainant, who was at the mosque at the time, was informed that RM70 in donation money had gone missing from the bilal room at 6.40am on Aug 13.
When he checked CCTV footage, it showed Mohd Zaidi entering the mosque through the women’s prayer area before proceeding into the mosque’ main section.
A police report was subsequently lodged, which culminated in Mohd Zaidi’s arrest at 12.15pm on Sept 2.
Jail time
A lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK), who represented Mohd Zaidi, pleaded with the court to implement a minimum sentence, saying his client’s guilty plea had saved the prosecution’s time and costs.
He also informed the court that the ex-commando was a widower looking for a job and had no prior criminal record.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Nur Alia Safri urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence.
Mohd Zaidi was sentenced to four months in jail, which will start from the date of his arrest.
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