Man who threw red paint at places of worship arrested

Police arrested an unemployed man in Johor Bahru this morning for allegedly throwing red paint at two places of worship this year.

South Johor Bahru Police Chief ACP Shahurinain Jais said the arrest of the 30-year-old local man at 3.17am took place at a residential area in Taman Daya, near here.

Police also seized a black Honda Accord and a reddish-grey coloured T-shirt believed to have been used by the suspect during the crime.

“Checks found that the suspect had a case being investigated for under Section 427 of the Penal Code 2017.

"He also has a record of being a psychiatric patient at Permai Hospital and a drug user," he said in a statement tonight.

Shahurinain said with the arrest, police have successfully solved the two cases of paint-throwing in Taman Daya involving Masjid As Sobirin on Jan 1, 2019 and Surau Al Hidayah yesterday.

The case is being investigated under Section 295 of the Penal Code for defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class of persons or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such defilement as an insult to their religion.

The offence is punishable with a maximum jail term of two years or a fine or both upon conviction.

Shahurinain advised the people not to do anything provocative at any place or house of worship that could create an atmosphere of disunity within a multi-religious community. - Bernama