An unemployed man was arrested for vandalising a Hindu temple in Taman Sri Ampang yesterday (May 19) and threatening a temple staff.
According to a report by Kosmo, the Ampang Jaya District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Mohd Azam Ismail, shared that the incident, which took place at around 8:29am, was witnessed by the temple’s 34-year-old secretary, who filed a police report.
The presence of the suspect was initially discovered by the complainant through the temple’s CCTVs at about 6am, though the suspect was found to have left the temple.
Later, the suspect entered the temple again while carrying a hammer, an iron cutter, a machete and a keris, before the suspect started breaking and damaging the Sullam (Hindu structure of worship).
“The complainant immediately rushed to the temple, and upon arrival, the complainant was chased away by the suspect, who brandished a machete and threatened to cut off the complainant’s head. The complainant then contacted the police for assistance,” Mohd Azam Ismail explained.
The suspect, a local man, was arrested as soon as the police arrived at the scene.
Urine test results found that the 33-year-old suspect tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine. The police also seized a hammer, an iron cutter, a bag, 2 machetes, a keris and a motorcycle.
No elements of extremism
When asked whether the suspect’s actions were related to extremism, Mohd Azam Ismail denied this.
“There is no connection to extremists. The suspect is believed to have been hallucinating and claims to have heard whispers,” he added.
This case is being investigated under Section 295 of the Penal Code, which refers to the act of damaging a place of worship, Section 506 of the Penal Code for making criminal threats and Section 6(1) of the Corrosive Substances, Explosives and Dangerous Weapons Act 1958 for possessing a dangerous weapon.
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