Five Arrested in Johor for Robbing Gay Men Met Online

Johor police have apprehended five individuals suspected of orchestrating a series of robberies targeting gay men who sought romantic encounters through social media applications. The modus operandi involved arranging meetings via these platforms, only for the victims to be robbed shortly after.

“

When the victim and the suspect were in the vehicle, the suspect's friends, who disguised themselves as security guards in the area, would threaten the victim by accusing them of engaging in indecent activities.

According to Johor Police Chief Datuk Ab. Rahaman Arsad, nine different victims, aged between 25 and 40, reported similar incidents between January and May. The suspects would use dating apps to arrange meetings with their targets, often inviting them into their vehicles in areas like Taman Pelangi and Majidee. Once inside, accomplices posing as security guards would confront the victims, accusing them of indecent activities.

Following the threats, victims were subjected to physical harm and coerced into handing over cash or jewelry. The total value of the stolen assets across these nine cases amounts to RM315,220.

“

The victims were then injured before being asked to pay cash or hand over their jewelry.

The breakthrough came when police successfully arrested five local male suspects, aged between 21 and 28, in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, on May 30. During the arrests, authorities seized five mobile phones, a Perodua Bezza car, five credit cards, four gold necklaces, four pairs of earrings, two gold rings, and two gold bracelets.

“

The losses involved in these cases amounted to RM315,220.

Investigations revealed that some of the suspects have prior criminal and drug-related records, although their urine tests came back negative. The suspects are currently under remand, with three of them scheduled to be charged under Section 394 read with Section 34 of the Penal Code. The police noted that the dating application used is a social networking platform popular among the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

“

Police also seized five mobile phones, a Perodua Bezza car, five credit cards, four gold necklaces, four pairs of earrings, two gold rings, and two gold bracelets.