KUCHING, Sept 2 – A 33-year-old man was sentenced to 12 years and two months in prison after pleading guilty to three charges of arson and theft at two supermarkets in Kota Sentosa and Batu Kawa.
The case was heard at the Sessions Court here today before Judge Musli Hamid.
On the first charge, the accused admitted to setting fire to shelves and tissue products at a supermarket in Kota Sentosa, Jalan Penrissen, on August 17 at around 3.00 pm. He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment under Section 435 of the Penal Code.
For the second charge, he was convicted under the same section for attempting to set fire to toilet tissue and disposable diapers at another supermarket in Batu Kawa on August 21 at about 8.30 pm. The court imposed a further seven years’ imprisonment, to run consecutively.
On the third charge, he admitted to stealing 12 bottles of 1.5-litre Coca-Cola from the Batu Kawa supermarket on the same day. For this offence under Section 380 of the Penal Code, the accused was sentenced to two months’ jail, to run concurrently with the second sentence.
Police investigations revealed that the accused was arrested on August 25 at about 2.00 pm by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Padawan District Police Headquarters.
In a TikTok update, Sarawak CID stated that the swift arrest reflects their commitment to act firmly against individuals who endanger public safety and commit destructive acts. Authorities also highlighted that public cooperation was vital in solving the case quickly.
The sentencing serves as a warning that arson and theft will not be taken lightly, especially when such acts pose a risk to lives and property.