Single mum held for stealing at mosque

GEORGE TOWN: A 38-year-old woman has been detained for allegedly stealing valuable belongings worth almost RM30,000 at a mosque and surau here.

The single mother of four, who was detained near Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Al-Malik Khalid mosque at 6pm on Tuesday, was believed to be linked to almost 20 theft cases.

Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Anuar Omar said the woman tested positive for methamphetamine.

“During interrogation, the suspect told us she had been stealing at the mosque and the Penang Hospital surau since January.

“We seized two pawn notes, four mobile phone shop sale receipts, three handbags and a mobile phone,” he said at the district police headquarters here yesterday.

It was learnt that the woman resorted to theft to pay off her loan shark debts of nearly RM20,000.

She told police she would pretend to pray at the women’s section and steal valuables when worshippers were praying.

She has been remanded for three days from yesterday under Section 380 of the Penal Code for theft.

Meanwhile in Petaling Jaya, police obtained a seven-day remand order against two men who allegedly hurled a Molotov cocktail into the compound of a surau in Damansara Damai on Sunday.

Petaling Jaya police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Sani Che Din said the men, in their 20s, would be remanded until next Tuesday to assist in investigations.

“Police arrested the duo near a mamak restaurant near Sri Damansara at 3am. We are investigating the motive for their action,” he said.