Azlan Othman

The Syariah High Court convicted two local men in two separate cases in connection with Sariqah (theft) under Section 55 (3) (b) of the Syariah Penal Code Order, 2013.

In the first case, Rudy Irwandy bin Budin, 38, was convicted of stealing a bicycle from a garage in a house at Kampong Tunggulian, Sungai Liang between August 22 and 23 this year.

The bicycle and accessories valued at BND787.60 were recovered by officers of Sungai Liang Police Station.

The man’s six-month jail sentence began from the date he was arrested. The stolen bicycle was returned to its owner pursuant to Section 61 (1) of the Syariah Penal Code Order, 2013.

In the second case, Hashim bin Haji Bahir, 58, was convicted of stealing three watches from a sales kiosk at Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex on September 8, 2019.

Investigations by officers of Bandar Seri Begawan Central Police Station found that the man stole the watches totalling BND413 while the kiosk worker was facing the cash counter.

The theft was recorded in a closed-circuit camera (CCTV).

The man’s three-month jail sentence is effective from the date of arrest.

In sentencing, the Syariah High Court judge ruled that the stolen goods are of great value to the owners.

The Syariah High Court judge also warned that stealing is a serious offence in Islam.

Syar’ie prosecutor of the Syar’ie Prosecution Division, Ministry of Religious Affairs prosecuted in both cases.