In Sarikei, cook sentenced to eight months in jail for breaking into employer’s café to steal RM350 for baby formula and alcohol

SIBU, Oct 8 — A cook was sentenced to eight months in jail by the Sarikei Magistrates’ Court for breaking into his employer’s café and stealing RM350 to buy baby formula and langkau (rice spirit).

The accused, 30-year-old Umpang Mandi, who worked at a restaurant in Pakan, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Stella Augustine Druce to a charge under Section 445 of the Penal Code.

According to the charge sheet, the offence occurred between 8pm and 9pm on September 28 at a café in New Pakan Bazaar.

Police investigations revealed that Umpang broke into the café by bending the metal grille on the back door and switching off the electricity supply to disable the CCTV system. Despite this, the CCTV footage still captured him entering through the back door and tampering with the camera near the counter.

The court ordered that Umpang’s sentence, to be served at Sibu Prison, take effect from the date of his arrest on October 1.

Deputy public prosecutor Aiman Zarith Zahrullail prosecuted the case, while the accused was unrepresented.

Julau police chief DSP Alif Haiqal Ramesh Abdullah said the café owner lodged a police report three days after discovering that cash and coins kept on the premises were missing.

The owner also provided a flash drive containing four CCTV recordings from the café.

“Following the report, a team from the Julau District Criminal Investigation Department arrested the suspect in front of Rumah Panjang Mandi, Sungai Entawai, Pakan, on Oct 1 at about 2.40pm,” Alif Haiqal said in a statement.

Further investigation found that the suspect admitted to the break-in and theft, saying he used part of the stolen money to buy milk for his child and the rest to purchase air langkau.

Alif Haiqal noted that the café’s back door was old and rusty, making it easy to force open.

“The main motive behind the crime was financial difficulty and family needs. Although the amount stolen was small, it remains a serious offence as it involved breaking into a business premises,” he said.

Total losses were estimated at RM3,100.

He also advised business owners to be more careful when hiring employees and to ensure their premises are equipped with proper security measures, such as functioning CCTV systems and additional locks.

“Julau police will continue to strengthen patrols and monitoring efforts in small towns like Pakan to ensure public safety,” he added. — The Borneo Post