Mum's jail sentence for grocery theft reduced to six days
KUALA LUMPUR: A mother of two, who was ordered to serve two months in jail by the lower court here for stealing groceries from a supermarket, can now breathe a sigh of relief.
The High Court reduced her jail term to six days and she walked out of court a free person yesterday.
High Court judge Justice K. Muniandy made the reduction after finding that the two-month jail sentence handed down to Lini Ahmat, 38, by the Magistrate's Court on April 21, was excessive compared to the offence committed.
'The accused also admitted that she stole out of desperation, and the jail sentence that she had served for six days was sufficient, the accused is to be released today,' the judge said, adding that the court used its revisional jurisdiction to alter the decision of the Magistrate's Court.
The woman admitted her guilt and said she had repented and was waiting to work as a cook in a shopping mall food court after her release, Bernama reported.
Deputy public prosecutor Izalina Abdullah said the sentence meted out by the lower court was excessive and that according to the current sentencing trend, an accused who has pleaded guilty will usually be sentenced to a fine or a week in jail.
On April 21, Lini was charged with stealing 30 items including snacks, personal care products and daily necessities worth RM374.69 from a supermarket in Brickfields, near here.
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