KUALA LUMPUR: A retail assistant who resorted to theft because he was badly in debt and stressed out after his divorce, was today jailed for three days’ and fined RM10,000 in default 10 months’ jail, by the Sessions Court.

In sentencing Ong Eng Hooi, Judge Azman Ahmad said although the accused was stressed, he shouldn’t have resorted to stealing and should have explored other alternatives.

Ong, 26, pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of stealing RM23,058 worth of goods and money from the Cole Haan boutique in Pavillion, Jalan Bukit Bintang between September and November, last year.

The court heard that Ong, who has a five-year-old son, was living with his parents and child in Ampang.

Counsel S. Narasimhan, in mitigating for a lenient sentence, said his client had truly regretted his actions, especially when he was under police remand for two days, and has vowed to become a better person.

“This is his first offence and it was committed out of desperation because of his many debts and also after he had divorced his wife.

“My client wants to put this whole incident behind him, move on and spend Chinese New Year which is around the corner, with his family.”

Deputy public prosecutor S. Malini Anne said the accused had committed a serious offence, which resulted in his employer suffering RM23,058 losses.

“He is an adult and he should have known that stealing is an offence.”-nst