M'sian man, 29, an unemployed dad, jailed a month for stealing S$35.80 of household items meant for family

A 29-year-old unemployed father of two in Malaysia was sentenced to one month in jail after pleading guilty to stealing RM113.70 (S$35.80) worth of daily necessities from a supermarket in Kuala Terengganu.

Pleaded guilty

Muhamad Azrul Haqim Azman, admitted to the offence in the Magistrates’ Court on Jan. 5.

The sentence was passed by Magistrate Iffah Nabihah Mohd Ishak.

The court ruled that the jail term takes effect from the date of the man's arrest on Jan. 2, reported Sinar Harian.

Theft took place on New Year’s Day

Court documents stated that the offence occurred at around 9:30pm on Jan. 1, New Year’s Day.

Azrul Haqim had committed the theft in Kuala Terengganu in a building used to store supermarket goods.

The stolen items consisted of basic personal care products, including one unit of Carrie Junior Hair and Body Wash, two units of Selsun 2-in-1 Shampoo, one unit of Lifebuoy Body Wash, as well as a Byford singlet, according to the Malay Mail.

Items stolen for family needs

In mitigation, the defence told the court that Azrul Haqim had been facing financial difficulties after losing his job and had no fixed source of income.

His lawyer added that he is married with two young children, aged four years old and three months old respectively, and that the items taken were not intended for resale but meant for his family’s daily use.

The court also heard that it was the defendant's first offence.

He was also said to be suffering from high blood pressure and has no prior criminal record

He could have been jailed up to 10 years and fined.

Repeat offenders may face harsher punishment, including caning.

Top images via Sin Chew Daily, Unsplash