Johor Bahru Utara district police deputy chief Supt Beh Eng Lai said the 34-year-old suspect was picked up by the “Ops Cegah Jenayah” squad of the Taman Universiti Police Station around 2pm.
“The suspect was apprehended following a public tip-off and he tested positive for methamphetamine and had past records for three drug and three criminal offences.
“The suspect had also been treated at the Permai Hospital,” he said in a statement today.
Beh said an initial investigation revealed that the man had gone to clean the surau.
He said an order was obtained from the court to remand the suspect until Sunday to enable the police to carry out further investigations.
On Tuesday, religious books in the surau were allegedly burnt by the suspect after he failed to pry open a donation box.
The incident was noticed by a resident who passed by the surau at 2.10am and found the entrance gate and grille of the premises ajar.
Following further inspection of the premises, a mobile fan was found to be missing and copies of the Quran and Surah Yassin were found scattered in the surau while several shelves and the clock were moved from their original position.
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