Johor pawn shop heist: Seven arrested, former manager suspected of masterminding RM28.4m theft, says police chief

Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad (left) addressing police officers and personnel at the Johor police contingent headquarters in Johor Bahru, November 10, 2026. — Picture by Ben Tan

By Ben Tan

First Published: Tuesday, 10 Nov 2026 3:25 PM MYT

JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 10 — A 44-year-old former female manager of a pawn shop in Kota Tinggi is believed to have masterminded a break-in at the premises that resulted in the loss of jewellery and cash totaling RM28.4 million last Friday.

Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the suspect allegedly entered the premises through the front entrance and exited through the back with the items and cash at 11.42am.

Acting on information, he said police arrested seven individuals, consisting of five men and two women.

“The suspects are all locals aged between 29 and 48.

“They were arrested separately in Kota Tinggi and Johor Bahru on November 7 and 8 to assist with the investigation,” he told reporters at the Johor police contingent headquarters here today.

Following the arrests, Ab Rahaman said police seized 2,891 pieces of jewellery, RM27,371 in cash, two pawn receipts, two sets of keys, two sling bags and a mobile phone.

He said that investigations suggest the motive behind the incident was to destroy evidence pertaining to a criminal breach of trust case committed by the former manager.

“Most of the jewellery taken were actually fake or costume jewellery, pawned by the suspect’s associates using the identities of non-existent individuals to fraudulently obtain the company’s funds,” he said.

Ab Rahaman said that background checks revealed one of the suspects has two prior criminal records, while initial urine screening tests for all suspects returned negative for drugs.

“Four suspects have been remanded for seven days, from November 8 to 14, while three others have been remanded until this Sunday to assist with the probe,” he said.

The case is being investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code for theft and Section 408 of the Penal Code for criminal breach of trust.