Northeast district police chief ACP Anuar Omar said police had managed to track down the thief by obtaining the number plates of the getaway vehicle from CCTV footage.

This led to the arrest of a 36-year-old antique dealer and his accomplice, a 29-year-old woman.

Anuar said the white marble statue measuring nearly a foot long was recovered when police swooped on the antique dealer at an undisclosed location.

He said the suspects would be remanded at the Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.

The theft had occurred on Dec 11 at the Penang Buddhist Association temple on Anson Road.

In the 8am incident, a man was seen swiftly grabbing the statue from the top shelf of the main altar. He was accompanied by a woman who later left in a purple Perodua Myvi.

According to the temple’s caretakers, the statue had been kept at the temple for the past 91 years.

The caretakers only realised it was missing on Dec 20, which prompted them to review the CCTV footage. They then lodged a report at the Dato Keramat police station.

The case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft.