JOHOR BARU: A former manager of a pawnshop in Kota Tinggi is suspected of masterminding a break-in at the premises, resulting in the loss of jewellery and cash worth RM28.4 million last Friday.
Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the suspect allegedly entered the premises through the front door at 11.42am before escaping through the rear exit with the valuables.
He said police, acting on information received, arrested seven local suspects, comprising five men and two women, aged between 29 and 48.
“They were arrested separately in Kota Tinggi and Johor Baru between Nov 7 and 8 to assist in investigations,” he told a press conference at the Johor police contingent headquarters here today.
Ab Rahaman said police also seized 2,891 pieces of jewellery, RM27,371 in cash, two pawn receipts, two sets of keys, two sling bags and a mobile phone following the arrests.
He said investigations indicated that the break-in was allegedly carried out to destroy evidence of a criminal breach of trust involving the former manager, aged 44.
“Most of the stolen jewellery comprised fake items pawned by the suspect’s associates using fictitious customer identities to obtain money from the company,” he said.
He said checks found that one of the suspects had two previous criminal records, while initial urine screening tests on all seven suspects were negative for drugs.
“Four suspects have been remanded for seven days, from Nov 8 to 14, while the remaining three have been remanded until this Sunday to assist in investigations.
“The case is being investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code for housebreaking and Section 408 of the same code for criminal breach of trust,” he said.