BATU PAHAT: A Pakistani national was sentenced to nine months in jail by the magistrate's court here today for stealing tyres and overstaying.
Ali Irshad, 28, apologised in court before magistrate Suhaila Shafi'uddin handed down the sentence.
The charges were read out to him in Pashto by a court interpreter.
The first charge involved the theft of 10 tyres from a shop in Jalan Sri Mewah 1, Taman Sri Mewah, Senggarang, at 7.45am on Oct 7.
Ali, who worked at the tyre shop, was charged under Section 379A of the Penal Code, which carries up to five years' jail and a fine, if convicted.
The second charge was for overstaying his temporary work permit, which expired on Nov 17, 2022.
He was charged under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which carries up to five years' jail or a fine of RM10,000, or both, if convicted.
According to the facts of the case, the shop owner discovered the missing tyres and reported the theft to the police.
Closed-circuit television camera footage showed Ali taking the tyres. He was arrested on Oct 7.
Initial investigations suggested that Ali committed the theft in retaliation against his employer for unpaid wages.
Deputy public prosecutor Farah Wahidah Mohd Sharip prosecuted, while the accused was not represented.
The court sentenced Ali to six months in prison for the theft and three months for overstaying, with the sentences to run concurrently from the date of his arrest.