PUTRAJAYA: A father who was arrested for shoplifting food and schooling items at a supermarket in Johor Baru on Sunday is not a welfare recipient from the Social Welfare Department.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim said checks found that he did not qualify for welfare aid.
“He has enough income and does not qualify for welfare aid. More likely it is a habit. We have provided counselling,” she told reporters after handing over school items at a “Back To School” event here yesterday.
Rohani said the suspect’s eldest son was only three years old and there was no need for him to get school uniform.
The suspect, who worked as a cook at a government department for 13 years, had gone to the supermarket with his son and stole goods worth RM415.06.
He was released on police bail, but investigations are still ongoing.