EIGHT HELD OVER RM500,000 ROBBERY OF PAKISTANI MAN IN JOHOR

JOHOR BAHRU, March 5 (Bernama) -- Police detained eight individuals to assist in the investigation of a Feb 24 robbery involving RM500,000 cash from a Pakistani man at a car park near a bank in the Pasir Gudang Commercial Centre here.

Johor Police Chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the suspects, seven local men and a local woman of Pakistani descent aged between 23 and 53, were picked up in Seri Alam and Tampoi within 24 hours of the report being lodged.

He said the noon incident occurred shortly after the 45-year-old victim, a foreign labour transition agent, and his wife had withdrawn the money from the bank.

They were reportedly approached by two suspects armed with what is believed to be an imitation pistol, who then fled with two bags containing the cash.

Ab Rahaman said a follow-up operation was launched involving the D9 Division (Special Investigation) of the Johor Contingent Police Headquarters (IPK) and the Seri Alam District Police Criminal Investigation Division (JSJ).

"Investigations revealed that two of those detained, a 30-year-old businessman and a 32-year-old unemployed man, were the 'masterminds' behind the robbery," he told a press conference at the Johor IPK here today.

He added that the businessman and another 31-year-old suspect, a mechanic, have prior criminal and drug-related records.

Ab Rahaman said the arrests led to the seizure of cash and items believed to have been used during the commission of the crime.

"...this includes a Toyota Hilux, a Perodua Myvi, two grey bags, an imitation pistol, 800 pieces of RM20 notes, 700 pieces of RM10 notes, and eight bundles of RM50 notes," he said.

He said quick action by the police resulted in the recovery of RM487,350, while the remainder of the stolen cash is believed to have been spent by the suspects.

All suspects have been remanded for 10 days. Six of them, including the masterminds, are expected to be charged at the Johor Bahru Magistrate’s and Sessions Courts tomorrow.

The remaining two will be released and turned into prosecution witnesses under a bond in accordance with Section 118 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The case is being investigated under Sections 395, 399, 412, and 120B of the Penal Code, as well as Section 36(1) of the Arms Act 1960.

-- BERNAMA