GEORGE TOWN: Police have arrested five foreigners for allegedly being involved in fights at two separate locations, Sungai Nibong and Prai.
Penang police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said in the first incident on Saturday (Jan 21), they received a public complaint about a fight at a flat in Sungai Nibong.
Comm Mohd Shuhaily said in the 9.50pm incident, a 24-year-old man sustained facial injuries after being hit with a glass bottle by his housemate.
"On Sunday (Jan 22), at about 12.50am, a team from George Town police headquarters detained a 32-year-old suspect who works as a cleaner," he told a press conference at state police headquarters on Monday (Jan 23).
Comm Mohd Shuhaily said police believe the incident happened when the suspect and the victim were drunk and a misunderstanding arose.
He said a urine test on the suspect came back negative for drugs and the man was remanded for three days until Tuesday (Jan 24) to help in the investigation.
The case is being investigated under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means.
In another incident involving foreign nationals who were reportedly intoxicated, police arrested four men aged between 23 and 27 at Taman Chai Leng Park in Prai in the wee hours of Sunday morning.
Comm Mohd Shuhaily said the four were involved in an altercation and two of them suffered facial and hand injuries after being hit with sharp objects.
He added that the other two suspects were not injured.
"Investigations showed that before the fight broke out, the suspects were drunk and this may have led to a misunderstanding and argument," he said.
Police also confiscated a folding knife, measuring about 15cm, which is believed to have been used in the brawl.
He said the suspects had been remanded until Wednesday (Jan 25).
Comm Mohd Shuhaily advised those who employed foreign nationals to advise their workers not to get involved in criminal activities.
