BUTTERWORTH: The Penang Veterinary Services Department (DVS) has opened an investigation paper on an alleged act of cruelty against a cat seen hanging from a vehicle.
Its director Dr Saira Banu Mohamed Rejab said the case is being probed under Paragraph 29(1)(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015.
"The investigation paper will be referred to the DPP for further instructions soon," she said in a statement on Friday (Aug 9).
Dr Saira Banu said the department had also recorded a statement from the subject of the investigation, a man in his 30s who was driving the vehicle.
She said the department received a complaint about the alleged incident that occurred at Jalan Merak Jaya 5, Simpang Ampat, Tambun at about 11.30am on Thursday (Aug 8).
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She said following the complaint, DVS conducted a preliminary inspection at the scene at around noon the same day.
"Acting on the information received, we successfully identified the person involved in this case," she said, adding that the cat is now stable and under the department's care.
She added that the vehicle involved had also been temporarily confiscated for investigation.
It was reported earlier that a man found a stray cat in poor health near his home on Thursday and decided to take it to a veterinary clinic in Simpang Ampat.
According to South Seberang Prai OCPD Supt Chong Boo Khim, the cat tried to escape and ended up entangled and dangling from the vehicle.
He added that the man, who was accused of animal abuse after news of the incident spread on social media, then lodged a police report.
