KUALA LUMPUR: A man who had trespassed on Johor Istana Bukit Serene to steal a Ferrari belonging to Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, was detained yesterday.
The 31-year-old man from Gelang Patah, Johor, was detected when he broke into the Istana via the East Lodge entrance in Jalan Straits Views around 12.30pm yesterday.
A Royal Johor Military Force soldier was guarding the entrance when the suspect, who was driving a Proton Waja, forced his way into the Istana.
The suspect who has previous criminal and drugs records then sped into the Istana’s garage.
A palace worker who spotted the suspect entering the Ferrari immediately removed the car key.
Realising that his plan had failed, the suspect ran towards his car and fled through the entrance at East Lodge.
Police acting on information gleaned from closed-circuit television footage apprehended the suspect hours later.
The suspect tested positive for methamphetamine.
State police chief Datuk Mohd Khalil Khader Mohd said: “The case is being investigated under Section 448 of the Penal Code for house-trespass. He is still under police remand to facilitate investigation,” he said, but did not divulge the suspect’s motives.