A Singaporean fugitive who had been wanted by the police for two years, was arrested in Johor Bahru after going to Malaysia for a holiday with his family.
As a result, two other Singaporean fugitives aged 48 and 49 were also subsequently arrested after the first guy had been nabbed.
All three fugitives were arrested in Johor Bahru.
They were wanted for suspected crimes relating to the disappearance of SGD$1 million from a money changer.
Events leading to arrest
The 54-year-old fugitive, a businessman, was at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex when an alert was sent to detain him.
He was then sent to the police by immigration officers, thereafter, two other Singaporeans who were connected to the disappearance of the money were then tracked down and arrested.
One other Malaysian fugitive linked to the case is still on the run, with the police still searching for him – he had been working as a runner for the money changer before he disappeared with the money.
Background
The Malaysian man was supposed to be transporting the cash to a bank on the day of the incident and was driving a bulletproof car owned by his company.
The money was being transported in a separate security van while being transported to the bank, but the bank was not open when they arrived at 8.45am.
The Malaysian man then complained that he was having pains in his chest and asked his colleague and security guards to go back to their workplace to get his medicine, leaving him alone with the money.
By the time his co-workers and the security guards returned to the bank with his medication, he had already fled the scene.
He is believed to have driven to Danga bay where he met up with the Singaporeans and they then split the loot among themselves, before abandoning the company vehicle.
How they evaded arrest
Amran Md Jusin, the Johor Commercial Crime Investigations Department chief, said that the three Singaporeans were able to evade the police due to the Covid-19 lockdowns.
The first Singaporean guy who was nabbed was visiting Malaysia for a family holiday and is currently out on bail after recording his statement.
The other two Singaporean suspects are being remanded to assist in investigations.
As for the Malaysian man who is still at large, the police believe that he might have fled to the Philippines with his foreign wife, and they are working with Interpol to track him down.