Sessions Court Judge Shamsudin Abdullah ordered Ahmad Norfais Ishak to begin the sentence from Oct 23, the day of his arrest.
The court heard today that Norfais’ arrest was made possible after police discovered his finger prints at the crime scene.
He was charged with breaking into Justice Balia Yusud Wahi’s house at Jalan Kent in Wangsa Maju and stealing his belongings and cash.
The offence was committed at 6.10am on Oct 22.
The judge, who returned home about 10pm the same day, found his premises ransacked and he lodged a police report.
Norfais was arrested at the Sungai Buloh police district headquarters on Oct 23 and he later led investigating officer G Stephen to recover the stolen items.
Lawyer Ernie Ahmad urged that his client, who was a first-time offender and father of three, be bound over instead of being sent to jail.
“He has a family to support and mother to take care of. Moreover, there was no element of violence in the commission of the crime,” she said.
However, government lawyer Nurakmal Farhan Aziz shot down the plea for a non-custodial sentence as the crime committed was serious.
“The offence carries a minimum five and maximum 14 years jail or a fine for break-in and stealing property,” he said, adding that the court should also take into account public interest and impose a jail term as a deterrent to would-be offenders.