Deaf mute bound over for stealing exotic fish

From: New Straits Times, Malaysia
Nov. 6, 2002

PENANG, Nov 6: A deaf mute was bound over by the Magistrate's Court today for two years after he pleaded guilty to stealing seven Flower Horn fish, worth RM15,000, last year.

On Sept 6 this year, V. Munisvaran, 20, had claimed trial to two charges of stealing 27 Flower Horn fish, worth RM73,800, from two fish shops.

However, he changed his plea for one of the charges when the case was heard today.

Munisvaran, who was jointly charged with labourer Tan Gim Guan, 23, and unemployed Cheah Wei Yap, 19, admitted stealing the seven Flower Horn fish belonging to Ng Hooi Kar, 47, at Rinko Aquarium at Jalan Free School between 5pm on Dec 13 last year and 5pm on Feb 9 this year.

They were also alleged to have broken into Loon Aquarium at Jalan Datuk Keramat and stole 20 Flower Horn fish, worth RM58,800, belonging to shop owner Chan Kok Leong, 26.

The trio were alleged to have broken into the shop between 10pm on Dec 20 last year and 12.15pm the next day by climbing over the wall behind the shop and breaking down the back door.

Tan and Cheah, who are also deaf mutes, maintained their plea of not guilty for both charges.

In mitigation, S. Yagoo, who represented Munisvaran, urged Magistrate Shahrizat Ismail for a lenient sentence as his client was handicapped and was a first offender.

Yagoo also asked the court to consider that Munisvaran pleaded guilty to one of the charges and had saved the court's time.

Goik Ah Kim appeared for Cheah while Tan was unrepresented.

Shahrizat fixed Jan 15 next year for trial for all three accused.

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