A JUDGE gave a thief the benefit of the doubt when he sentenced him to a year in jail because the warehouse supervisor denied stealing as much fabric as the Crown alleged.
The prosecution said Chui Kwan-wai, 29, stole 182,000 metres of nylon taffeta lining and 174,000 metres of flannel lining worth more than $1.8 million.
But Chui's barrister, A. Suffiad, told the District Court Chui had confessed to making $300,000 selling a total of 183,000 metres.
Chui pleaded not guilty to theft because he disputed the prosecution figures.
Deputy Judge Wright said he would give Chui the benefit of the doubt.
'I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant had committed the offence . . . but was unable to quantify the amount of cloth,' he said.
