Addicted To Sabu, Youth In Lombok Gasak Charity Box From 8 Mosques

Police officers accompany the suspect and evidence of money theft in a mosque charity box (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Mataram City Police, West Nusa Tenggara, arrested a shabu-shabu addict with the initials AA (31) who allegedly stole money in a charity box in eight mosques.

Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Mataram Police, AKP Kadek Adi Budi Astawa, the AA perpetrator (31) came from Bajur, West Lombok Regency. The perpetrator was successfully arrested from tracking CCTV footage at one of the mosque's TKP.

"From the action that was recorded on CCTV cameras at the Al-Baitul Rohim Mosque, Royal Mataram Housing, that was what we managed to detect. The person concerned took action on Friday, November 20," said Kadek Adi as quoted by Antara, Thursday, November 26.

This action, he said, was viral on social media. From the recording, the perpetrator was seen taking money in a charity box after the congregation held Friday prayers.

"At first he carried the charity box behind the pulpit of the preacher, immediately broke the charity box and took the money," he said.

From the CCTV inspection, the identity of the perpetrator was revealed. He was arrested at his home in Bajur, West Lombok Regency, Tuesday, November 24.

Then related to a number of thefts of money in the mosque's charity box with the same mode was revealed from the results of the examination.

"Eight people have just been identified, including the mosque TKP at the Royal Mataram Housing," he said.

Furthermore, the actors in the action did not work alone. But there is one male identity that appears and is still being hunted by police in the field.

Regarding the stolen money, the perpetrator admitted before the investigators to use it to buy daily necessities and also drugs.

"He indicated that he was a drug addict, he also used the stolen money to buy crystal methamphetamine," he said.

Now AA who has been detained at the Mataram Police Headquarters is charged with Article 362 of the Criminal Code concerning Theft. As a suspect, AA could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.