KUALA LUMPUR: Twelve locals were detained for allegedly robbing a Taiwanese YouTuber at a condominium in Cheras.
The victim was assaulted before being robbed by the gang, some of whom had posed as police officers.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Fadil Marsus said police received a report lodged on Aug 1 by a Japanese man on behalf of the victim.
“The victim suffered injuries and losses amounting to about RM35,000,” he said in a statement.
Comm Fadil said the victim was believed to have been targeted after the suspects learned that he was carrying a large amount of cash in foreign currencies.
Following the report, he said the Cheras district police headquarters’ Criminal Investigation Division and the Kuala Lumpur CID conducted a special operation to nab the suspects. All 12 suspects were arrested in separate operations in Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur.
“The suspects comprise eight men and four women, all Malay-sians aged between 26 and 48.
“They were detained from Aug 2 onwards after the report was lodged,” said Comm Fadil.
He said seven of the suspects were released on police bail on Aug 7 after their statements were recorded.
“The remaining five suspects have been remanded until Aug 13 to assist with investigations,” he added. The case is being investigated under Section 170 of the Penal Code for impersonating a public servant and Section 395 of the same law for gang robbery.
He said police were also tracking down another suspect who remained at large.
He urged those with information on the suspect to come forward to assist in the investigation.
In a separate case, five Chinese nationals were detained in connection with several house-breaking cases in the city.
Comm Fadil said the male suspects, aged between 38 and 58, were arrested during operations conducted in Sri Petaling and Pudu at about 9.30pm on Aug 9.
“The arrests followed a house-breaking incident at a residence in Taman Desa Petaling here on Aug 4, in which the victim suffered losses estimated at RM6,000. The losses involved cash, jewellery and a branded sling bag,” he said.
Comm Fadil said two separate raids were conducted based on information and intelligence gathered following the report.
Initial investigations revealed that the suspects were allegedly involved in two other house break-ins reported in the Cheras area.
The five suspects have been remanded from Aug 10-13 to assist in investigations, he added.
