Corpun file 16109

Borneo Bulletin, Bandar Seri Begawan, 1 July 2005

Jail, cane for worker who stole $10,000

By Rosli Abidin Yahya

An Indonesian general worker who broke into his employer's house to steal $10,000 in cash on June 19 was sentenced by the intermediate courts to 3 years' imprisonment and 4 strokes of the cane yesterday morning.

Rejo Sutawijaya, 35, did not show any remorse at his sentencing but his wife, who was present at the courts, broke down and cried upon learning her husband's fate.

Intermediate courts judge Lim Siew Yen said Rejo had planned to rob his employer on the evening on June 19.

"You knew that your employer, Faridza Abdullah, the owner of Happy Dean Restaurant in Berakas, was not in the house as she was treating restaurant employees to a 5th anniversary dinner.

"You chose not to attend the dinner celebration as you had planned earlier to abuse your employer by causing her to suffer a financial loss.

"As such, I have no choice but to take precedent of a similar case which also imposed a similar sentence," she said.

She said a heavy sentence was necessary to protect the public as there has been an upsurge in the number of house break-ins.

Rejo, who was employed by Happy Dean Restaurant since its inception in 1990, was charged under section 457 of the penal code that carries a maximum jail term of 15 years and whipping.

In committing the crime, Rejo climbed up to the roof top of the first floor and used a screwdriver to force open the window of his employer's bedroom.

While doing so he broke the glass window causing injury to his hands. He managed to unlock the broken glass window to enter it.

Once inside, he ransacked the room and escaped via the same window after he found the $10,000 cash inside a drawer. The money was put inside a blue plastic bag which he found inside the room.

He ran away from the crime scene through a nearby jungle. In the police report, he told police personnel that he threw the screwdriver and the money in the jungle.

Police from the Sengkurong Station combed the jungle for several days and found the screwdriver but not the plastic bag containing the money.

Zainuddin Dato Seri Paduka Hj Marsal, manager of Happy Dean Restaurant and husband of the robbed restaurateur, thanked the Sengkurong police for their efforts in solving the crime and bringing the culprit to justice.

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