image: https://www.thestar.com.my/~/media/online/2017/12/22/07/52/frth.ashx/?w=620&h=413&crop=1&hash=8254EA9B48EBCAB6899276865AACDB7879C8EC7A
GEORGE TOWN: Police have arrested the duo who allegedly stole the RM10,000 marble Reclining Buddha statue in broad daylight from the altar of the Penang Buddhist Association (PBA) building.
George Town OCPD Asst Comm Anuar Omar said they first arrested the woman before retrieving the statue and arresting the man, both on Friday.
The 36-year-old man is an antique seller while the woman, aged 29, is unemployed.
ACP Anuar said that the two were caught in George Town but he did not mention any specific location, adding that a remand order will be obtained on Saturday (Dec 23).
The theft was recorded on closed circuit television (CCTV), showing the pair pretending to pray until no one else was in the hall.
In the video that has been spreading on social media, the woman gives the man a boost when they are alone so that he can reach for the foot-long statue on the altar, which is over 2m high.
They then stroll away calmly, with the statue stashed in a black bag carried by the woman.
The bespectacled man with black hair wore a light blue shirt and white Bermuda shorts while the black-haired woman wore a white blouse and black skirt and leggings.
On Wednesday (Dec 20) at about 10am, a devotee praying in the shrine hall noticed that the statue was missing and alerted the PBA secretary, who then made a police report.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/12/22/police-arrest-duo-who-allegedly-stole-buddha-statue/#yJvi2CtYvLKU5wZj.99
