BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
THREE men have pleaded guilty to all 28 mosque theft charges before the High Court yesterday.
The defendants, Hj Jumat Hj Jaya, 39, Shari Jarudin, 45, and Mohammad Sedikan Bujang, 32, admitted to breaking into 15 mosques in the Brunei-Muara, Tutong and Belait districts, and stealing money from donation boxes.
The series of thefts were committed during the late hours between November 30, 2013 and January 9.
The court document stated that the trio stole from Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque in Kg Katimahar; Belimbing Mosque in Kg Subok; Kg Serdang Mosque; Pengiran Muda Abdul Mateen Mosque in Kg Mulaut.
Other mosques that were broken into were Pintu Malim Mosque; Tanah Jambu Mosque; Lumapas Mosque; Perpindahan Lambak Kanan Mosque; Pg Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’datul Bolkiah Mosque in Kg Sg Akar; RIPAS Mosque in Kg Rimba; Kg Kapok Kanan Mosque; and Beribi Mosque in Jalan Bunga Jasmin.
In the Tutong district, the defendants stole from Kg Bukit Udal Mosque and Hj Abdul Azim Mosque in Kg Luagan Dudok.
The defendants also committed theft at Zainab Mosque in Lumut on December 31, 2013.
Theft under Section 380 of the Penal Code is punishable with a jail term of five years, while causing damage to property is an offence which carries a seven-year imprisonment, and not less than two strokes of the cane.
For the offence of house-breaking with the intention to commit theft, the defendants could face up to 15 years in jail with whipping.
During the proceedings yesterday, the prosecution indicated that they will be preparing the statement of facts which will be read in open court on January 27, before the presiding High Court judge, Justice Dato Paduka Hairol Arni Hj Abdul Majid.
The trio has been ordered to be remanded at Jerudong Prison pending next week’s hearing of the case.
The Brunei Times
Thursday, 23 January 2014
http://www.bt.com.bn/news-national/2014/01/23/three-men-plead-guilty-stealing-mosques
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