Johor police have detained eight individuals, including two masterminds, in connection with a brazen RM500,000 cash robbery from a Pakistani man.
JOHOR BAHRU: Police have detained eight individuals to assist in the investigation of a RM500,000 cash robbery from a Pakistani man at a car park near a bank in the Pasir Gudang Commercial Centre.
Johor Police Chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the suspects, comprising seven local men and a local woman of Pakistani descent aged between 23 and 53, were arrested in Seri Alam and Tampoi within 24 hours of the report being lodged.
He explained that the noon incident on Feb 24 occurred shortly after the 45-year-old victim, a foreign labour transition agent, and his wife had withdrawn the money from the bank.
The couple 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.
A follow-up operation was launched involving the D9 Division (Special Investigation) of the Johor Contingent Police Headquarters and the Seri Alam District Police Criminal Investigation Division.
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.
The businessman and another 31-year-old suspect, a mechanic, have prior criminal and drug-related records according to the police chief.
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.
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, with six of them, including the masterminds, 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.
 The Sun Malaysia
