Melaka:Police have arrested a man suspected of injuring a senior citizen, attempting to steal a vehicle, and harassing the public around Ayer Molek yesterday.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the incident unfolded around 7:30 pm when the 36-year-old suspect assaulted an elderly man by hitting him on the head with a glass bottle. The victim's daughter, aged 33, discovered her father in distress after hearing screams, finding him dragged out of the prayer room with his face and head covered in blood.
The suspect fled the scene and was seen entering a vehicle belonging to another man in Taman Ayer Molek. The owner of the vehicle, noticing the incident, instructed his son to exit the car and managed to pull the suspect out.
The suspect continued to act aggressively, refusing to leave, which led the vehicle's owner to contact the police through the 999 emergency line.
In a related incident, a family confronted the suspect at the Taman Ayer Molek junction. The suspect allegedly attempted to snatch the wife's mobile phone and then grabbed their two-year-old daughter. The father intervened, leading to a short struggle before members of the public restrained the suspect until police arrived.
Officers from the Melaka Tengah Mobile Patrol Vehicle unit apprehended the suspect around 8:20 pm. Initial examinations revealed that the suspect had sustained head injuries and was taken to Tiang Dua Police Station. A preliminary urine test indicated the presence of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the suspect's system.
The case is currently under investigation under several sections of the law, including the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, and the Penal Code. It was also revealed that the suspect had a prior conviction under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. A seven-day remand has been granted to facilitate further investigations.
The police have urged the public to avoid taking matters into their own hands and to contact law enforcement or the emergency line when dealing with aggressive or suspicious individuals.