KUCHING: A man who robbed an elderly man after pretending to help him make a withdrawal from an ATM has been arrested.

Acting Kuching police chief Superintendent Merbin Lisa said the incident occurred in Stutong here about 8.30am last Sunday.

He said the 75-year-old victim was struggling to withdraw money from the ATM when the suspect approached to "help".

"The victim inserted his ATM card and entered his pin number.

"Then the suspect keyed in RM1,500 for withdrawal. But he only gave the victim RM300, then left with the remaining cash," he said in a statement today.

The victim filed a police report after he realised he had been robbed.

"A team from the Kuching police's D4 Branch, Criminal Investigation Division, tracked down and apprehended the suspect in Kenyalang Park at 1.55pm on Friday.

"Evidence was seized from the suspect. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to his involvement in the incident."

Merbin said the suspect, a cleaner, had been remanded for three days until Tuesday to assist in investigations, including potential involvement in other cases.

"The case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code, which carries up to seven years' jail, or a fine, or both, upon conviction."