GEORGE TOWN: A misunderstanding is believed to have led to a fight in which a man's left eye was allegedly gouged out by a foreigner, said Comm Datuk Hamzah Ahmad.
The Penang police chief said the 28-year-old suspect is currently under remand for four days until Wednesday (Nov 20).
"The victim is now receiving treatment at the hospital and in stable condition," he said after witnessing the handover ceremony of the new district police chief at George Town police headquarters on Monday (Nov 18).
Comm Hamzah said there is also a possibility that the victim could be left with a permanent disability following the incident.
Police investigation revealed that the incident might have happened after a quarrel that led to a fight, he added.
Comm Hamzah said checks found both suspect and victim were neighbours in the same flat.
He said further checks found the suspect has no prior crime records but the victim has several past criminal records.
He said the foreign national also holds a UNHCR card and has valid working documents.
He said the suspect is expected to be charged under Section 325 of the Penal Code with voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
