A woman has fronted Dili Municipality Court after stealing money and other goods from a shop.
The court heard that on April 24, 2015 the shop owner (JL) asked the accused (MS) to look after her shop while she took a toilet break.
When the shop owner returned the accused was already gone and she later realized that her money and goods were stolen when a consumer bought a cigarette.
“I was shocked when I saw $30, five deho (canned tuna) and two Sagiko (soft drink) were gone,” JL told the court.
The shop owner then went to the home of the accused to attempt to confront her about the missing items, but she was out at the time.
The court heard the accused later became angry when she heard about this and that the argument almost became violent.
One day later the sister of the accused asked the victim whether her sister had been at the shop earlier as she had given her Deho and some money.
“I was shocked and I reported [the matter] to the police immediately,” JL said.
The accused told to the court that she agreed with the facts as presented and admitted she’d stolen the items as she had no money at the time.
“I would like to tell her but I thought she would not give me and I meant to tell her later,” the accused said.
The accused told the court she regretted her actions and was prepared to pay the money back.
“I knew it was not good and I am ready to give her money back,” she said.
After hearing the declarations from both sides, the judge president handed down a one-year suspended sentence, telling the accused not to commit such an offence again otherwise she could face prison.
