Serial burglars jailed; one faces death penalty or life on drug charge

New Straits Times

02-07-2025

BATU PAHAT: Two men were sentenced to jail today after pleading guilty to five charges including housebreaking, theft, and disposal of stolen goods, with one of them also facing the death penalty or a life sentence for trafficking heroin.
Syed Faisal Syed Abu Bakar, 50, and Zulhilmi Kamarul Zaman, 36, were brought before the magistrate's court here and pleaded guilty to all charges before magistrate Arun Noval Dass, who sentenced them to between nine years and 78 months in prison, respectively.
Syed Faisal, a divorcee, was also charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 with trafficking 26.58g of heroin, but no plea was recorded.
The offence, which carries the death sentence or 30 years plus whipping upon conviction, was allegedly committed in Medan Selera Benteng in Peserai at 5pm on June 22.
On the first charge, both men were accused of dishonestly disposing of stolen property, namely a bracelet and a ring belonging to a 41-year-old, by pawning them at a shop in Jalan Abdullah, Muar, around 3pm on June 24.
The charge was framed under Section 414 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34.
The second charge involved breaking into the home of a 56-year-old man and stealing items including a wristwatch, a drone, a mobile phone and a tablet.
For the third charge, they were accused of stealing a car belonging to a 55-year-old woman. Both incidents occurred in Taman Soga Sutera between 3.11am and 3.40am on June 22.
These charges were framed under Sections 457 and 379A of the Penal Code, which pertain to housebreaking and vehicle theft.
The victims became aware of the break-ins when they noticed their sliding doors ajar.
Checks showed that several valuables were missing, and closed-circuit television camera footage confirmed the suspects' involvement, including driving off with one of the stolen vehicles.
Checks revealed that Zulhilmi, who is unmarried, has a criminal record with 30 entries while Syed Faisal has a record with 29 cases related to crime and drugs.
Deputy public prosecutor Farah Wahidah Mohd Sharip led the prosecution, while both accused were represented by Tan Song Yang of the National Legal Aid Foundation.
The court sentenced Syed Faisal to two years' jail for the first charge, four years and a RM3,000 fine for the second, and three years for the third.
Zulhilmi received a year's jail for the first charge, 30 months for the second, and three years for the third.
The court also ruled that sentences under Sections 457 and 379A are to run concurrently for both men, followed by the sentence under Section 414 after the first term concludes.