For many, theft is a crime; for some, it’s a desperate attempt to survive. This was the harsh reality for Muhammad Fadil Ismail, a 35-year-old widower and father of three from Johor.
Initially sentenced to three months in jail for stealing a bunch of bananas, the High Court reduced his sentence to ten days upon review.
How He Was Caught
According to Berita Harian, the incident took place on the morning of January 4, at approximately 9:45 a.m., in Parit Jaya, located in Kampung Sungai Bagan Laut, Rengit.
Frustrated by repeated banana thefts, the 56-year-old orchard owner installed a CCTV camera on his farm.
The perpetrator was finally discovered when Fadil was recorded on the CCTV footage cutting down a banana tree and making off with its fruit.
The owner reported the theft to the Rengit Police Station, leading to Fadil’s arrest later that day.
Original Sentence and Subsequent Review
Fadil initially pleaded guilty under Section 379 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison, a fine, or both.
On January 7, the Batu Pahat Magistrate’s Court presided over by Magistrate Nurasidah A. Rahman, sentenced him to three months in jail.
However, according to NST, Judge Datuk Meor Hashimi Abdul Hamid deemed the initial punishment disproportionate to the crime.
On January 13, the sentence was reduced to ten days, starting from the date of Fadil’s arrest.
A Struggle Between Law and Survival
Although the theft caused financial loss for the orchard owner, Fadil’s case highlights the struggles faced by those in dire circumstances.
As a widower and sole provider for three young children, his actions, though illegal, stemmed from a need to feed his family.
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