Cops To Seek Remand For Temple Vandal Who Threatened Committee Member

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 Ampang Jaya police chief Azam Ismail says the suspect tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine.
Ampang Jaya police chief Azam Ismail said items seized from the suspect included a hammer, a bolt cutter, two parangs and a keris. (Facebook pic)PETALING JAYA: Police will seek a remand order for a man who allegedly vandalised several deity statues at a Hindu temple in Taman Sri Ampang and threatened to behead a temple committee member who confronted him
Ampang Jaya police chief Azam Ismail said the man was apprehended at the scene at about 8.40am today.
“A remand application will be submitted tomorrow at the Ampang Jaya magistrates’ court,” he said in a statement.
Azam said the suspect is a 33-year-old unemployed man without a criminal record. He, however, tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine.
He said the suspect’s actions were not related to extremism, and the man was believed to have been hallucinating at the time, claiming to have heard voices.
Police seized a hammer, a bolt cutter, a bag, two parangs, a keris and a motorcycle from the man.
The temple’s secretary filed the police report after viewing CCTV footage that showed a man entering the temple at about 6am today and leaving shortly after.
The secretary said the man returned at about 8.30am with several tools, parangs and a keris and proceeded to damage the statues of several deities.
“The complainant immediately rushed to the temple. Upon arrival, he was confronted and chased away by the suspect, who pointed a parang at him and threatened to behead him,” Azam said.
“The complainant then contacted the police for assistance.”
The case is being investigated under Section 295 of the Penal Code for defiling a place of worship, and Section 506 of the same law for criminal intimidation.
Azam said the investigation also involved Section 6(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958.
Earlier today, Urimai urged the authorities to take swift and firm action over alleged acts of sabotage at two Hindu temples in Selangor over the past week, including the incident at Taman Sri Ampang.
Urimai’s interim deputy chairman, David Marshel, said if such actions are not stopped, they could spark tension and threaten racial and religious harmony.
He claimed that the investigation into the Taman Sri Ampang temple incident was halted after the suspect was found to be mentally unstable.
He said the other incident occurred at the Sri Maha Ayiram Kannudayar Alayam temple in Kapar. - FMT

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