Fadley Faisal

A petrol station attendant was sentenced to 11 months’ imprisonment by the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, after he pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing BND500.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Hajah ‘Adzimah Mukarramah binti Haji Salleh revealed in court that Muhammad Asyraf Shafwan bin Abdullah @ Rosdy anak Rosli, 27, had been working at the Negalang Maju Sdn Bhd Petrol Station as a pump attendant, since last April.

He had pocketed BND500 from the sales of August 16, and logged in an incorrect reading meter on a Shift Duty Collection form on August 17, to cover up his act.

However, his supervisor found out that the actual sales on that day had been BND1,065.60, but was recorded by the defendant as BND500 less. The supervisor confronted the defendant, who immediately admitted to taking the money. A police report was lodged on August 19, leading to the defendant’s arrest.

Presiding Magistrate Dewi Norlelawati binti Haji Abdul Hamid noted that there was a serious aggravating factor in the case, as it involved a degree of planning in altering the amount received; that his actions were premeditated; and that the proceeds were never recovered, as the defendant had spent them on personal expenses.

While balancing out the aggravating factors, the Magistrate took into account the defendant’s clear record and his instant guilty plea which saved time for the court, the prosecution and the police. The Magistrate also said that a custodial sentence is only befitting for such offenders, to deter him and others from committing such offences.