KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Feb 2019:
Police yesterday arrested the man believed to have assaulted and robbed a woman in a lift at the Taman Mutiara Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Station in Cheras here last Thursday.
Kuala Lumpur Police chief Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim said the 26-year-old suspect was arrested at his home in Taman Cheras, Jalan Cheras here by a team from the Cheras District Police Headquarters at about 8.10pm.
“The suspect will be remanded tomorrow to assist in investigations according to Section 394 of the Penal Code for causing hurt while committing robbery,” he said in a statement.
Last Thursday, a 48-year-old woman was punched and kicked several times by the robber in the lift.
In the 6.45am incident, the suspect followed the victim into the lift before assaulting her and running away with her belongings.
The victim was reported to have suffered injuries to several parts of her body and swelling on her forehead.
A 57-second closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera recording, which showed the suspect brutally attacking the victim in the lift, has since gone viral.
The victim who suffered bruises and injuries on the face, head, and body was taken to Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) by Prasarana auxiliary police personnel shortly after the incident.
Meanwhile, CCTV recordings inside lifts are now displayed directly to staff on duty as an extra precautionary measure following the recent snatch theft incident at the Taman Mutiara MRT station.
Prasarana Malaysia Bhd said in a statement the images were pre-set on the main screen so that any incident could be viewed and known faster.
“We have increased the number of Special Action Taskforce (SAT) members at the hotspot areas.The SAT team is a special unit set up by Prasarana’s security department and staff are dressed in plainclothes when on patrol duty.”
Rapid KL is working closely with the police in their investigations into the incident and the CCTV footage was handed over to the police on the morning of the incident, it said.
Meanwhile, Rapid KL called on the public to be cautious and watchful over their personal safety, especially in public places and to avoid deserted routes or places.
“Commuters using Rapid KL services may request to be escorted to the parking lot if the area is deserted,” the statement added.
Later, Mazlan said there was no one else in the house during the raid. The suspect, 26, was arrested and police also seized 19 mobile phones, ATM cards, tools for breaking into premises and a red motorcycle.
“The suspect admitted to having been involved in eight snatch theft, robbery and burglary cases around Cheras since 2014. He also has four previous records,” he told a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters today.
The suspect, who is a member of Gang 08 based on the ‘08’ tattoo on his body, was also tested positive for ecstasy and syabu.
Mazlan said the suspect was being remanded for seven days until Feb 25 under Section 394 of the Penal Code for causing hurt while committing robbery.
He said although the suspect was believed to be working alone, police would check if he had any accomplices.
“The public must be wary of their surroundings and get security guards to monitor the surroundings or instal closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to avoid a recurrence of such an incident.”
– Bernama