KUALA LUMPUR:A saleswoman cried after the Sessions Court here today sentenced her to 18 months in prison for possessing a stolen mobile phone.

Judge Izralizam Sanusi sentenced Nur Azidah Maulad Zakaria, 33, after she pleaded guilty to owning a mobile phone worth RM450 belonging to Muhammad Alif Nisam, 24, and knew that the phone was obtained through gang robbery.

Izralizam ordered Nur Azidah to serve her sentence from the date of arrest, last Dec 30 and also advised the accused to repent and not repeat the mistake.

"Taking public and your interests into account, I will mete out an appropriate punishment as a lesson for those out there. Be more careful after this,” the judge said.

The woman was charged with committing the offence at a house in PPR Gombak Setia, here, at 2 am, last Dec 30. The offence under Section 412 of the Penal Code provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine.

The accused, who was not represented and with no previous criminal record, asked for a lenient sentence on grounds that she is an orphan. Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Aiman Azahan appeared for the prosecution.

According to the facts of the case, last Dec 12, while the complainant (Muhammad Alif) was working at a convenience store, two men armed with machetes robbed items from the store and the victim’s mobile phone. On Dec 30, the phone was found in the possession of the accused.

-- BERNAMA