Heart-warming HR: Top retailer recruits red-handed thief

One of the world’s largest supermarkets has offered a job to an unlikely candidate, after he was caught stealing from a store.

Heart-warming HR: Top retailer recruits red-handed thief
One of the world’s largest supermarkets has offered a job to an unlikely candidate after he was caught stealing from one of its Malaysian stores.

The new recruit, who did not wish to be named, attempted to steal food worth RM27 (ND$9.77) from a Tesco supermarket in the northern town of Bukit Mertajam.

The store’s general manager, Radzuan Ma’asan, chose not to report the would-be thief after hearing the man’s situation.

“I had quit my job as a contract worker after my wife fell into a coma during a birth complication last week,” he told the local Star newspaper.

The man, who already has three other children between two and seven, immediately admitted the transgression when employees approached him.

“He was not a regular thief,” stressed Ma’asan. “When we questioned him, he immediately confessed, saying that he stole the fruits and drinks because his son was hungry.

“In my 23 years of experience in the retail line, I had never come across thieves who admitted their act so easily,” he continued. “Most would give all kinds of reasons. He also told us that he was unable to work as he has to look after his three children.”

As well as offering the man a job, Tesco – which takes the title as fourth-largest supermarket in the world – also gave him cash to cover expenses until he could begin bringing in a wage.

“The man’s situation really touched our hearts. We visited his relative’s house. It was so empty and poor,” added Ma’asan.

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