Police detain Chinese national after alleged theft attempt on Jakarta-Penang flight

Police said the victim recorded the attempted theft before alerting cabin crew. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

First Published: Friday, 18 Sep 2026 9:46 AM MYT

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 18 — Police detained a Chinese national on suspicion of attempting to steal a passenger’s wallet during a flight from Jakarta, Indonesia, to Penang yesterday.

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 last night.

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