The police detained two men on Oct 9, believed to be involved in the theft of prayer paraphernalia worth about RM20,000, from temples in Malacca last month.

The suspects are aged 23 and 51.

One of the suspects was picked up in Taman Tangga Batu, Tanjung Kling in connection with the theft of eight statues of Hindu deities from the Sri Sundramoorthy Temple in Batu Berendam on Sept 19.

Malacca Criminal Investigation Department (Operation and Intelligence) deputy chief, Supt PR Gunarajan said yesterday that the man was a drug addict and had two criminal records for theft in temples in the state.

He said further investigations led to the arrest of the other man in Kampung Paya Rumput, Sungai Udang.

“The second suspect is believed to be the buyer of the stolen prayer items,” Gunarajan told a press conference at the Malacca contingent police headquarters yesterday.

He said, from the second suspect, the police seized eight statues of Hindu deities, two Buddha statues, 30 pieces of silver prayer items, 36 types of copper prayer items and a claw tool.

- Bernama