Former manager allegedly masterminded RM28.4m pawnshop break-in
Police believe the break-in was orchestrated to conceal an alleged four-to-five-year scheme involving counterfeit jewellery and criminal breach of trust
AGENCY
JOHOR BAHRU – Johor police have arrested seven locals, including two women, in connection with a break-in at a pawnshop in Kota Tinggi involving losses amounting to RM28.4 million, allegedly masterminded by a former manager to conceal a criminal breach of trust.
Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the arrests followed a report lodged by the premises' manager at 11.42am on Nov 6 concerning the break-in and the loss of jewellery and cash.
"The suspects, aged between 29 and 48, were arrested during raids conducted in Kota Tinggi and Johor Bahru on Nov 7 and 8 by the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department, Johor police contingent headquarters and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Kota Tinggi district police headquarters.
"Initial investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly broke into the premises through the front door before fleeing through the back door with jewellery and cash," he told a press conference at the Johor police contingent headquarters here today.
Ab Rahaman said police also seized several items from a house here, including 2,891 pieces of jewellery, RM27,371 in cash, pawnshop receipts, a set of keys, a sling bag and mobile phones.
He said one of the male suspects had two previous criminal records, while all seven suspects tested negative for drugs.
Ab Rahaman said further investigations revealed that the break-in was allegedly orchestrated by a 44-year-old former manager and a former colleague to conceal evidence of criminal breach of trust involving the pawning of counterfeit jewellery over the past four to five years.
"We believe most of the seized jewellery was counterfeit and had been pawned by the suspects using fictitious identities to obtain cash," he said.
Ab Rahaman said police had also arrested the former manager's husband to assist in investigations.
He said police had obtained remand orders for four suspects until Nov 14 and the remaining three until Nov 15.
The case is being investigated under Sections 457 and 408 of the Penal Code.
Ab Rahaman also urged the public to refrain from speculating or making comments that could interfere with ongoing investigations and called on those with relevant information about the incident to contact Johor police. – BERNAMA
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