Stealing is inherently the wrong thing to do, but there are times where one is forced to resort to crime just to get some money to get by.
A 47-year-old father pleaded for mercy after he admitted to stealing a handphone but revealed that he did so out of desperation after his child was sent to the hospital.
M’sian dad admits to stealing phone out of desperation
According to a report by NST, Engkapi Anak Keai was brought to the Muar Sessions Court yesterday (Nov 4) to face robbery charges, which he allegedly committed at about 2am on Oct 27.
Based on the case facts, Engkapi went to the construction site located in Sungai Mati, Tangkak in hopes of securing a job but found none as there were no vacancies.
On the same day, he returned to the scene and stole a mobile phone which belonged to a contract worker.
The victim later lodged a police report at the Sungai Mati police station regarding the theft but Engkapi managed to sell the mobile phone.
In court, Engkapi, who was unrepresented, pleaded guilty to robbery but said he had no choice after his child was admitted to the hospital.
I stole because my second child was admitted to the hospital. I had no options left and was desperate. I tried borrowing money, but no one was willing to lend it to me,” he said, adding that he hopes the court will lighten his sentence.
After hearing from both the prosecution and Engkapi, the court sentenced Engkapi to four years in jail, starting from the date of his arrest on Oct 27, and fined him RM1,000 in default of one month in jail.
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