A MAN was sentenced to nine months in prison by the Ayer Keroh Magistrate’s Court in Melaka today, after pleading guilty to stealing women’s undergarments from a self-service laundromat two weeks ago or his own sexual gratification.
Magistrate Nur Afiqah Radhiah Zainurin handed down the sentence to Mohammad Hamdan Awal, 39, immediately after the charge was read out by the court interpreter.
According to the charge, the accused, with the intent to steal, took several undergarments belonging to a 26-year-old woman at a self-service laundromat in Taman Tanjung Minyak Setia.
The offence occurred at approximately 2:30 am on October 11 and constitutes an offence under Section 380 of the Penal Code.
If convicted, the accused faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years, in addition to a fine.
Based on the facts of the case, the complainant was washing clothes at the laundromat when he discovered that six sets of his wife’s undergarments had gone missing.
A review of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage revealed that the accused had taken the woman’s bras and panties, prompting him to lodge a police report.
Investigations revealed that the accused committed the act with the intention of using the undergarments for his own sexual gratification.
Earlier, Prosecuting Officer Inspector Nur Zaidah Muhamad Zailani requested a severe sentence, taking into account the nature of the stolen items and the illicit intent behind the act.
The accused, represented by lawyer Amritpal Singh, sought a lenient sentence, explaining that he works as a delivery rider for an e-commerce platform and supports his mother, an older brother suffering from a skin condition, and a younger sibling.
The court subsequently sentenced the accused to nine months in prison, effective from the date of his arrest on October 16. – October 21, 2026