PONTIAN: A teenage couple who allegedly assaulted an e-hailing driver and stole his vehicle has been nabbed in Melaka.
Pontian OCPD Supt Hadzrat Hussien Mohd Hussein said the 18-year-old boy and his 17-year-old girlfriend were detained during a raid at Pangsapuri Rakyat Sungai Putat in Batu Berendam on Monday (May 11).
He said police had earlier received a report at 8.51am on May 10 about a robbery in Taman Negara Tanjung Piai, Pontian.
"The male suspect and his girlfriend had booked the e-hailing ride from an apartment in Danga Bay.
"The male suspect then instructed the driver to head towards Serkat, Pontian, supposedly to collect money," he said in a statement on Tuesday (May 12).
Supt Hadzrat said the suspects then attacked the 40-year-old victim by using a rope around his neck, dragging him out of the car and fleeing with the vehicle.
He added that the victim, who is from Kota Tinggi, suffered severe injuries.
Police later recovered the car, which the suspects abandoned in Stulang Laut before fleeing to Melaka by bus.
He said the male suspect tested positive for drugs.
Checks revealed that the male suspect had a record of six crimes, while the girl had none.
He said both suspects, who are unemployed and no longer schooling, have been remanded until May 18.
The case is being investigated under Section 394 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt while committing robbery, Section 379A of the Penal Code for vehicle theft and Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
