Taiwanese YouTuber targeted for foreign cash, 12 nabbed in RM35,000 Cheras robbery

KUALA LUMPUR, August 12 — Twelve Malaysians, comprising four females, have been apprehended by the police in connection with the alleged assault and robbery of a Taiwanese YouTuber in a Cheras condominium. The incident was initially reported by a Japanese individual on August 1, with the victim sustaining injuries and financial losses amounting to approximately RM35,000.

Police Chief Datuk Fadil Marsus revealed that the suspects targeted the victim due to his possession of substantial foreign currency. This prompted a focused operation by the Cheras district police headquarters' Criminal Investigation Division and the Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department. The 12 suspects — a mix of eight men and four women aged between 26 and 48 — were apprehended in separate operations across Selangor, Negri Sembilan, and Kuala Lumpur.

Seven suspects were granted police bail on August 7 after providing their statements, while the remaining five remain in custody, awaiting further instructions from investigators. The case is currently under investigation for impersonating a public servant (Section 170 of the Penal Code) and gang robbery (Section 395). Authorities are also actively seeking an additional suspect who has yet to be apprehended, encouraging anyone with relevant information to come forward to aid the investigation.