Former footballer, two others claim trial in theft case

PONTIAN: A former football player and two other men pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate Court here for possessing stolen items and breaking into a house in Benut early this month.

The accused, Mohd Azinee Taib, 33, Muhamad Hairul Hafiz Muzaren, 24, and Khairul Akmal Zainol Abidin, 31, made the plea after the charges were read to them by the court interpreter in front of Magistrate Nur Azzuin Abdul Moati on Sunday (July 30).

According to their charge sheet, the trio, with common intention, broke into the house of a 35-year-old man with the intention of stealing his belongings.

The act was allegedly conducted at a house in Jalan Cendana 2, Taman Cendana, Benut, Pontian, at 1.15pm on July 3 earlier this month.

The act is an offence under Section 457 of the Penal Code for breaking into a house to commit burglary, which provides for an imprisonment term that may extend to 14 years and a possible fine or whipping.

In his second charge, Mohd Azinee, along with another two men who are still at large, allegedly broke into the house of a 64-year-old man with the intention of stealing his belongings.

It was allegedly conducted at a house in Lorong 8, Taman Benut Utama, Pontian, at 12.05pm on June 8 last month.

For his third charge, Mohd Azinee was found in possession of a mobile phone that belonged to a 35-year-old man on July 3, at 4.30pm at a fishermen’s jetty in Ayer Baloi.

The act is an offence under Section 411 of the Penal Code for dishonestly receiving stolen property, which carries a jail term of up to five years or a fine or both, upon conviction.

Facing the same charge is Muhamad Hairul Hafiz, who was found in possession of South Korean cash worth KRW22,000 (RM78), a wallet, and two Vietnam Airlines flight tickets on the same day, July 3, at 1.30pm at the roadside of Jalan Johor Baru-Batu Pahat, Ayer Baloi.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Nurezzati Zaini, while the accused was not represented.

Earlier, Nurezzati had requested that bail be set at RM12,000 for each charge. The trio, in mitigation, had requested a lower bail as each of them is taking care of their family.

The court then set bail at RM5,000 for each charge with one surety and an additional term of reporting themselves to the nearest police station once every month.

The court also set August 30 for the case’s next mention.

On July 7, it was reported that a former football player, who is believed to have played for several major Super League teams, was arrested for a house burglary in Benut on July 3.

According to Sinar Harian, the 33-year-old was arrested after breaking into a house and causing tens of thousands of ringgit in losses to the victim.