PETALING JAYA: A couple was jointly charged at the magistrate's court today with stealing 13 types of food and drinks worth RM556 from a supermarket in Ara Damansara last week.
Ravintheran Raja Gopal, 31, and Christina Asirvadam, 36, who stood in the dock together, said they understood the charge before magistrate Shahril Anuar Ahmad Mustapa.
However, Ravintheran made his guilty plea while Christina claimed trial to the charge.
He was served with a one-day jail sentence and a RM3,000 fine in default two months jail.
They were charged with stealing 13 items consisting of alcohol, fruit juices, energy drinks, flavoured milk and ice cream from the supermarket in a condominium building at about 1.22am on May 22.
The offence under Section 380 of the Penal Code, read with Section 34, provides a maximum 10-year jail term and fine.
Ravintheran admitted to the facts of the case, which stated that a closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) recording showed he and three others had entered the premises and took several items but did not pay for them.
The complainant was told by a member of staff that there were fewer alcoholic beverages in stock, but no record of payment was received.
Checks by the supermarket staff revealed the items had gone missing, and they subsequently made a police report.
Investigations showed the couple had committed theft in a dwelling house.
In mitigation, Ravintheran, who was unrepresented, said he should be blamed.
"I was drunk and unaware of my actions. I took the items and put them in my wife's bag.
"My wife is not in the wrong. She admitted to the offence just because she wanted to save me.
"I stole the items," he pleaded.
He said his wife, who has diabetes, had recently undergone surgery and needed dressing daily, on top of caring for their two children and his sickly mother.
Deputy public prosecutor Asmaa' Zamri asked the court to impose a RM5,000 bail on Christina.
Christina said that her husband was sacked from his job because of the incident.
"Now we have no income, and I'm asking for a lesser bail sum.
"I am in charge of sending our children to school, and now, they are waiting outside," she said.
The court set RM2,800 with one surety and July 30 for document submission and the appointment of counsel.