A 35-year-old lorry driver has been apprehended by police in connection with a video depicting the destruction of temple figurines in Manjung, Perak. 

The arrest was made at 9.30pm yesterday following the circulation of a viral video showing the man destroying the temple figurines at a temple in Kg Koh, Manjung at 1.30pm on the same day. 

The suspect was arrested at his workplace, and his mobile phone, believed to have been used to record the video, was seized. 

According to Manjung district police chief Mohamed Nordin Abdullah’s statement today, the suspect, a former soldier, will be brought to the Teluk Intan magistrates’ court for a remand request. 

Despite having a mental illness, he does not possess a disabled (OKU) card. 

The incident, captured in a video uploaded to social media platform X on Friday, is being investigated under Section 295 of the Penal Code for defiling a place of worship with the intent to insult religion. 

This offence carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment, a fine or both. 

The case is also being investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for the improper use of network facilities. 

A conviction under this section could result in a maximum jail term of one year, an RM50,000 fine, or both, Nordin said. – April 7, 2024.