Man detained over alleged theft attempt on flight

GEORGE TOWN: Police detained a Chinese national on suspicion of attempting to steal a passenger's wallet during a flight from Jakarta, Indonesia, to Penang today.

Southwest district police chief ACP Anuwal Ab Wahab said police arrested the 55-year-old man at Penang International Airport after receiving a report from a 36-year-old Indonesian man about the incident.

"During the flight, the Indonesian man saw the suspect remove his bag from the overhead compartment, open it and take his wallet.

"The man managed to record the incident before alerting the cabin crew. The suspect was subsequently detained to assist in the investigation, while all the victim's belongings were recovered and no loss or financial damage was reported," he said in a statement tonight.

He said further investigations are underway and the case is classified under Section 379 and Section 511 of the Penal Code for attempted theft.