Over the past couple of days, local netizens have engaged in a heated discussion on social media regarding the viral case involving a 19-year-old man who was recently caught trying to steal a donation box at a mosque located in Rawang, Selangor.
For the uninitiated, it all started with a video of the teenager being bathed like a corpse by the mosque officials which went viral earlier this week. According to a recent report from Bernama, the teenager has been sentenced to 10 days in jail, and was fined RM4,000 by the Selayang Magistrate’s Court.
As reported by the news outlet, the accused pleaded guilty for attempting to steal the box at the Al Islahiah Mosque in Kuang, Rawang at 11:58pm on 8th January 2022. Magistrate Nik Mohd Fadli Nik Azlan meted out the sentence against the accused, Daniel Iskandar, who was clad in a blue tee. Before the sentence, the young man was reprimanded for stealing the funds.
In addition, the lawyer representing Daniel, Azman Abdullah, requested the court to impose a lenient sentence, on the grounds that it was the first time the accused committed the offence, apart from stating that his client had already repented.
“My client has apologised to the court and the mosque. The reason he (tried to steal) was because he needed money to buy medicine for his grandfather who is diabetic. He tried to ask people, but they couldn’t help him,” Azman revealed.
The pro bono legal practitioner added by saying, “My client is the eldest of three siblings, and his parents have been divorced since he was eight years old. He lives with his grandfather who in his 70s, and life is not easy for them. Even their meals are donated by their neighbours.”
Based on the facts of the case, the complainant who was a caretaker for the mosque (siak masjid) found the donation box missing. He then checked the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage before informing the mosque committee members about the incident.
They suspected that the individual lived near the mosque. And when they patrolled the neighbourhood, they found the same man as seen in the footage. When approached and asked on whether he had broken into the mosque and stolen the box, the teenager admitted to committing the act, after which the mosque immediately apprehended him before contacting the police.
As per MMO, the charge was framed in accordance with Section 380 of the Penal Code read together with Section 511 of the code which provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years and a possible fine.
