KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — Five men have been arrested over an alleged robbery scheme in which victims were lured through fake profiles on the dating app Grindr before being threatened and relieved of their valuables, Johor police said today.

Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the suspects, aged between 21 and 28, were believed to have targeted men by posing as potential romantic partners and arranging meetings through the social media platform.

According to The Star, the group is suspected of carrying out at least nine such robberies in Johor Bahru between January and May this year.

Ab Rahaman said victims were persuaded to meet the suspects for dates before being brought into a vehicle.

He said other members of the group would then allegedly appear and identify themselves as security personnel, accusing the victims of engaging in inappropriate activities in public places.

“The victims were threatened and assaulted before their personal belongings, including debit and credit cards, jewellery and cash, were taken from them,” he told a press conference in Johor Bahru.

Investigators also believe the victims were coerced into disclosing the PIN numbers to their bank cards, which were allegedly used to withdraw cash and purchase gold items.

Police said nine men aged between 25 and 40 had lodged reports over incidents that took place in the Taman Pelangi and Kampung Melayu Majidee areas, with total losses estimated at RM315,220.

Ab Rahaman said officers from the Johor Bahru South district police headquarters tracked down the suspects and arrested them in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, at about 11.30am on May 30.

Several items believed to be linked to the case were seized during the operation, including five mobile phones, a car, debit cards, jewellery and documentation relating to gold purchases.

The police chief said all five suspects had previous records involving robbery and drug-related offences, although urine tests conducted on them returned negative results.

He added that investigation papers had been submitted to the Johor prosecution office and that three of the five suspects were expected to be charged at the Johor Bahru Sessions Court tomorrow.

Police are also seeking another local man to assist in the investigation.

JOHOR BAHRU, June 9 — Police have arrested the mother of a girl who died and her brother who was seriously injured after the children are believed to have fallen from the 12th floor of an apartment in Tampoi on Monday. 

Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said based on information, a police team from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Johor Bahru North district police headquarters arrested the 37-year-old foreign woman in the Tampoi area at noon on the same day.

“A check found that the suspect did not have any previous criminal record and the results of the initial urine screening test conducted were also found to be negative,” he said in a statement yesterday

Ab Rahaman said an application for remand on the suspect under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code had been applied for and approved for four days, starting today.

He said several witnesses at the scene were also called to record their statements to assist in the investigation.

The case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which is child abuse, neglect, abandonment or exposure.

“The real cause and motive of the incident are still under investigation and we believe that the arrest of the victim’s mother will unravel the real cause of the incident,” he said.

At the same time, he called on the public to give the police space to conduct a thorough investigation and not make any speculation that could disrupt the investigation process.

Earlier, Johor Bahru North district police chief ACP Radin Ramlan Radin Taha was reported to have said that the eight-year-old victim was found on the seventh floor of the apartment block at 7.59 am, followed by her 10-year-old brother a minute later.

The incident also went viral on the Threads platform after being uploaded by members of the public who were around the swimming pool near the location of the incident. — Bernama

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ISKANDAR PUTERI, June 14 — Two married couples were arrested yesterday to assist in investigations after a video showing domestic helpers being assaulted in Taman Johor near Tampoi went viral on social media.

Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the couples, aged between 30 and 34, were arrested at a house in the residential area at about 7.30 pm by personnel from the Johor Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Johor Bahru Utara district police headquarters.

He said preliminary investigations revealed that the couples were living in the same house and that the female suspects were siblings.

According to him, the assault is believed to have involved three domestic helpers and is suspected to have taken place on July 26 last year.

“The video was recorded by one of the victims but only surfaced on social media yesterday. However, the motive behind the incident remains under investigation,” he told a press conference at the Iskandar Puteri district police headquarters here today.

He said the three domestic helpers, believed to be in their 20s, were suspected to have fled and are believed to still be in the country.

Meanwhile, Ab Rahaman said police had seized mobile phones, clothing belonging to the suspects, a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera and the two domestic helpers’ passports.

He said all four suspects tested negative for drugs and had no prior criminal records. They have been remanded for four days, beginning today.

The case is being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt, Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation, Section 354 of the Penal Code for assault or use of criminal force with intent to outrage modesty, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, and Section 12(1)(f) of the Passports Act.

Several video clips went viral on social media yesterday, showing a group of individuals assaulting a female domestic helper who was seated on a sofa inside a house. — Bernama

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JOHOR BAHRU, June 18 — The police will not compromise with any acts that provoke, threaten and incite hatred, including those linked to 3R issue (religion, race and royal institutions), for the upcoming state election.

Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said this includes acts of damaging public property, spreading false information or committing any offence that could affect public order throughout the election period.

“Strict action will be taken in accordance with the provisions under the law, irregardless of the background, political beliefs or position of any individual.

“In this regard, the Johor police contingent calls on all political parties, candidates, supporters and the public to adopt a sense of political maturity.

“This includes respecting the law to ensure that the democratic process takes place peacefully, harmoniously and responsibly,” he told reporters at the Johor police contingent headquarters here today.

Present was Johor deputy police chief Deputy Commissioner Hoo Chuan Huat and senior public order officers.

Ab Rahaman also reminded all parties to adhere to the guidelines set by the Election Commission (EC) and the authorities.

He said the Johor police have given an assurance that the security of the state would continue to be maintained and defended throughout the state election period.

“We will ensure that voters can carry out their responsibilities in a safe, orderly and conducive environment,” he added.

Meanwhile, a total of 12,710 police personnel in Johor are eligible to fulfil their responsibilities as early voters in the upcoming state election.

Ab Rahaman said the number involved officers and personnel working in the state from various formations.

He said the number was based on the list of voters registered by the EC as of May 21. 

The EC has set June 27 as nomination day for the Johor state election and July 11 as polling day, following the dissolution of the Johor state legislative assembly on June 1.

The upcoming state election will see several new and established parties contesting for the 56 state seats.