'Misunderstanding' lands four in lockup for assault and robbery

KULAI: Four men have been arrested over an alleged assault and robbery that took place at the Jalan Merbau, Bandar Putra Ramadan bazaar near here.

Kulai OCPD Supt Tok Beng Yeow said the incident occurred at 10.45pm on Tuesday (April 4) when the victim, a local man, was at the venue with three friends.

“The suspect came with three of his own friends and approached the victim to discuss the sale of firecrackers at the bazaar," he said in a statement on Thursday (April 6).

Supt Tok said one of the suspects kicked the 41-year-old victim in the chest.

He said the man fell and was then attacked with a wooden rod.

The victim was also allegedly beaten up by all four suspects, also locals.

“He suffered head injuries and bruises on both arms," said Supt Tok, adding that the victim claimed to have lost over RM5,000, believed to have been taken by the attackers.

The man then received treatment at Hospital Kulai and lodged a report at Kulai police headquarters at around 12.30pm on Wednesday (April 5).

Police then conducted operations to track down the suspects between 1.30pm and 10.30pm that day at several locations in Taman Sentosa, Bandar Putra and Jalan Indahpura near here.

“The four suspects, aged between 18 and 47, were detained. We also seized a wooden rod," Supt Tok added.

He said the suspects admitted attacking the victim over a misunderstanding, and that police were looking for another man to help with the investigation.

According to Supt Tok, the suspects did not have criminal records and had been remanded until Sunday (April 9).

The case is being investigated under Section 394 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery.