Man caught stealing from worshippers at Mukah mosque

SIBU (March 10): A man was handed over to police after he allegedly stole cash from two worshippers at Masjid Setia Raja in Mukah early on Tuesday.

Mukah police chief DSP Muhamad Rizal Alias said the incident occurred around 2am when one worshipper woke up from sleep and discovered RM68 missing from his sling bag.

“The victim then noticed a man believed to be the suspect heading towards his friend, who was also asleep. He witnessed the suspect going through his friend’s sling bag,” he said in a statement.

Muhamad Rizal said the victim and another friend at the mosque immediately confronted the suspect, who tried to flee.

“They managed to apprehend the suspect, 41, and searched his trouser pocket. They recovered RM168 believed to have been stolen from the two sling bags,” he said.

The suspect, who was handed over to police for further action, later tested negative for drugs.

However, Muhamad Rizal said a background check revealed seven past records for crime and drugs.

The suspect has been remanded until March 13 for further investigation under Section 380 of the Penal Code.