(Bandar Seri Begawan, 16th) Two unemployed local men were sentenced to prison yesterday after admitting to twice stealing government property from the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge.
25-year-old Eddie was sentenced to 12 months in prison, while 24-year-old Yusra was sentenced to 16 months in prison for stealing copper-coated tin strips worth over BND3,000.
Magistrate Safina Sahif pronounced the sentence after the two defendants pleaded guilty.
The court was informed that the two defendants first committed the crime on April 8th when they, along with two others, stole six copper-coated tin strips each measuring 5.85 meters from the bridge. The stolen materials belonged to the Brunei government and were later sold for BND630 at a scrap metal shop in Kampong Bunut.
Defendant Yusra and an accomplice initially left the stolen goods on the bridge and later returned to retrieve them. They divided the proceeds, each obtaining BND150.
On April 11th, the two men committed the crime again, this time stealing two similar-sized rolls of copper tape. They sold them for BND220 and split the proceeds, using some of the money to buy fuel and food.
The Brunei Bridge Authority initiated an investigation after suspicious activities were observed in the bridge's CCTV surveillance system. The police identified the suspects and traced the white vehicle used in both thefts.
Defendant Yusra received a harsher sentence due to his criminal record, while the other had no prior offenses. The stolen copper tapes were not recovered in either incident.
25-year-old Eddie was sentenced to 12 months in prison, while 24-year-old Yusra was sentenced to 16 months in prison for stealing copper-coated tin strips worth over BND3,000.
Magistrate Safina Sahif pronounced the sentence after the two defendants pleaded guilty.
The court was informed that the two defendants first committed the crime on April 8th when they, along with two others, stole six copper-coated tin strips each measuring 5.85 meters from the bridge. The stolen materials belonged to the Brunei government and were later sold for BND630 at a scrap metal shop in Kampong Bunut.
Defendant Yusra and an accomplice initially left the stolen goods on the bridge and later returned to retrieve them. They divided the proceeds, each obtaining BND150.
On April 11th, the two men committed the crime again, this time stealing two similar-sized rolls of copper tape. They sold them for BND220 and split the proceeds, using some of the money to buy fuel and food.
The Brunei Bridge Authority initiated an investigation after suspicious activities were observed in the bridge's CCTV surveillance system. The police identified the suspects and traced the white vehicle used in both thefts.
Defendant Yusra received a harsher sentence due to his criminal record, while the other had no prior offenses. The stolen copper tapes were not recovered in either incident.