Shahrizal’s body was taken to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for a post-mortem. — AFP pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 — A man suspected of stealing from a mosque donation box was beaten to death by the public at Masjid Pandan Indah in Ampang here yesterday morning.

Police said Shahrizal Petra, 20, was beaten up by men using either a cane or a pipe after he was allegedly caught red-handed.

He died on the spot.

Police have detained four men for questioning.

Shahrizal, the son of a former MP, was working part-time at a cybercafe after the death of his mother five months ago.

He was living with his stepfather at Orkid Apartment, Bukit Indah, and was described by his friends as a “loner”.

“Shahrizal was a friendly person, but after his mother’s death, he began to withdraw from his friends and kept to himself,” said a childhood friend, Nazrin.

Shahrizal’s body was taken to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for a post-mortem.

It was learned that there were severe cuts and bruises on his arms. He also suffered cuts on the back of his head.