Borneo Bulletin, Bandar Seri Begawan, 11 September 2001

Indon tourists turn thieves

Two Indonesian tourists turned thieves.

Two Indonesian tourists, who came to Brunei, not for sightseeing, but to make some money by stealing, were sentenced yesterday to six months in prison and two strokes of the rattan cane.

The 'screwdriver gang', identified as, Alamsyah Jupri, 38, and Eddy Gunawan, 26, had admitted to stealing a handbag and cash amounting to $703.10 belonging to Siti Aminah binte Awg Hj Damit, 23, from inside her fianc�'s car, parked at Mile 1, Jalan Tutong.

They also pleaded guilty to another charge of committing mischief by damaging the car door lock, estimated to cost $65 on September 1.

Senior Magistrate Dk Rostaina binte Pg Hj Duraman, in passing her sentence, said that she could not ignore the fact that both of them had come to Brunei with the intention to steal and in the process of doing so, had caused damage to the car.

The duo had come to Brunei on August 31 this year from Kuala Lurah, using a rented Proton Saga.

While in Brunei, one of the defendants went to the vicinity of shopping area near the Seri Complex building and wandered near the parking area. They spotted the victim's car and forced open one of the door locks by using a screwdriver.

Their act was observed by CID police officials who were in the vicinity. The officials followed both defendants to a car park near Kg Tamoi,

Upon investigation, both defendants confessed to stealing the handbag and cash. The stolen items were recovered.

Borneo Bulletin, Bandar Seri Begawan, 20 September 2001

Jailed for unlawful sex with half-sister

In the Intermediate Court yesterday, a 23-year old local was sentenced to two years imprisonment and three strokes of the rattan cane for having unlawful sex with his 12-year-old half-sister.

He has pleaded guilty earlier to three charges of having unlawful sexual intercourse with his half-sister on three consecutive months from October 1999.

It was revealed that the unlawful sexual intercourse had led to the pregnancy of his half-sister who subsequently gave birth to a baby boy.

A DNA test confirmed that the defendant was the baby's biological father.

In mitigation, he pleaded for leniency and promised to be a good person. He also promised to seek employment as soon as possible.

Intermediate Court Judge, Lim Siew Yen noted that the defendant is 11 years older then the victim.

"You have taken advantage of your half-sister who is na�ve. You are the half-brother whom she looked up to. After you failed to have sexual intercourse with the victim for the first time, you did not repent but continued to let loose your lust on a person who is your half-sister," Judge Lim remarked.

Judge Lim therefore refused to consider a probation or bond of good behaviour and imposed a sentence of two years and one stroke of the rattan cane for each alternative charge. The strokes are to run consecutively and the prison sentences to run concurrently.