An auditor was beaten up by a mob when he was caught secretly making a video recording of a woman's posterior on his mobile phone at a Johor Baru shopping mall last night.

He tried to flee when confronted by the woman's friend but was caught and severely assaulted in the 9.40pm incident, Bernama reported.

The 27-year-old sustained injuries on his head and face and is warded at the Hospital Sultanah Aminah for further treatment, the newswire reported.

Thanking the public for apprehending the suspected, Johor Baru police chief Sulaiman Salleh nevertheless urged against vigilante justice.

"Hand over the suspect to police in good condition," he said.

He said those using overt force against the suspect could be investigated under the Penal Code.

The suspect is being investigated under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison or a fine or both.