By Fadley Faisal –
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, SEPT 8 – A 33-year-old local man, Mohd Zamri bin Abdul Samad, was sentenced to 44 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to various thefts and related offenses before Magistrate Qamarul Afyian bin Abdul Rahman yesterday.
According to Public Prosecutor Radin Wafri bin Radin Sufri, Zamri faces several charges including vehicle theft and possession of stolen property.
The court heard that on August 1, between 8:45 am and 6 pm, Zamri stole a vehicle from a residence in Kampung Sengkurong.
A family member of the vehicle owner found the car missing when he returned from work. In addition to the car, a toolbox containing various tools was also stolen.
Zamri admitted to fleeing the car after spotting it when he was walking past the house.
He changed the registration plate of the vehicle by painting the number by hand. Zamri then left the vehicle near Pusat Ehsan after using it for a few days.
CCTV footage from a convenience store captured him with the stolen car on the day of the theft.
In a separate incident on August 8, Zamri stole another car worth $12,000 from a parking lot in Sengkurong.
CCTV footage shows Zamri cycling to the scene before fleeing the vehicle.
The stolen car was later found abandoned in Tutong with various parts missing, including the car’s battery, radio and tool box.
Zamri is also facing charges of receiving stolen property. On August 10, he bought a welding machine and a hammer drill for $80, despite knowing they were stolen goods.
The court took into account Zamri’s previous criminal history, dating back to 2007, with his most recent offense being committed in 2022.
Magistrate Qamarul Afyian noted the aggravating factors, including Zamri’s deliberate attempt to avoid detection and the inconvenience caused to the victim.
Zamri showed no remorse, and the court emphasized the need to impose a deterrent sentence to prevent repeat offences.
The court also ordered that the stolen goods found be returned to their rightful owners.
