MUKAH: Police have arrested a 41-year-old local man suspected of stealing cash from two individuals at Masjid Setia Raja Mukah early this morning (Mar 10).
Mukah police chief DSP Muhamad Rizal Alias said the incident occurred at about 2 am when the victims were at the mosque to perform qiamullail prayers.
He said one of the victims later realised that RM68 kept in his sling bag had gone missing and believed it had been stolen.
“Moments later, the victim saw a man believed to be the suspect approaching his friend who was sleeping beside the prayer area and opening the sling bag.
“The victim alerted his friend and both managed to apprehend the suspect, who had attempted to hide behind a pillar inside the mosque,” he said in a statement.
Police later seized RM168 in cash from the suspect, believed to have been stolen from both victims.
The suspect was handed over to police and is being investigated under Section 380 of the Penal Code for theft.
A urine test also found the suspect positive for drugs.
Police said the suspect has seven previous criminal records related to crime and drugs.
He has been remanded for three days until March 13 to assist in investigations.
