A SESSIONS Court in Batu Pahat has sentenced a 23-year-old convenience store employee to nine years’ imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to multiple counts of criminal breach of trust involving more than RM32,000 in company funds.
Judge Osman Affendi Mohd Shalleh delivered the sentence after Nurfatin Najwa Ahmad Bzli admitted to all seven charges brought under Section 408 of the Penal Code, which relates to criminal breach of trust by an employee.
“Why did you borrow from a moneylender? You are still young to serve this sentence, and your life journey is still ahead of you,” the judge said before delivering the sentence.
The court imposed one year’s imprisonment each for the first, second, fourth, and fifth charges, two years for the third charge, and 18 months each for the sixth and seventh charges.
All sentences are to run consecutively, starting from the date of her arrest on 28 March.
In delivering the judgment, the court highlighted the seriousness of the offences and the need to take into account the circumstances surrounding the case.
“You have helped your parents a lot, but what has happened is truly saddening,” the judge added.
According to the charges, the unmarried accused misappropriated RM32,102.60 in cash from daily business sales belonging to a convenience store in Taman Soga between 21 and 27 March.
Case facts revealed that the complainant, who is also the store manager, discovered a significant shortfall in funds that were supposed to have been deposited into the bank between 19 and 27 March 2026.
During investigations, the accused admitted to using the money for personal purposes, including repaying debts to ten illegal moneylenders.
When questioned in court, she explained the circumstances that led to her actions.
“I borrowed from a moneylender to pay off a friend’s debt. He (my friend) didn’t want to make the instalments, so I had no choice,” she said.
The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Sharifah Natasha Syed Ahmad, while the accused was represented by counsel Mohd Razak Shariff.
Under Section 408 of the Penal Code, the offence carries a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment, along with a possible fine and whipping upon conviction. - April 3, 2026
