ALOR GAJAH: An e-hailing driver was injured after she was beaten and choked by three teenage passengers who claimed they could not afford the fare.
OCPD Supt Ahmad Abu Bakar said the 41-year-old victim had accepted a booking involving four passengers – two girls, aged 14, and two boys aged 15 and 17 – from Bukit Rambai to Pekan Kuala Sungai Baru at about 12.30am on May 14.
“Upon arriving at an area near a forest in Kuala Sungai Baru, one of the suspects asked the victim to stop the car on the pretext of looking for someone.
“He also told her that they had no money to make an online payment.
“A few minutes later, three of the suspects – two girls and a boy – turned aggressive and attacked the victim using a hard object.
“They also choked the victim from behind the driver’s seat and warned her not to seek help,” he said in a statement, Bernama reported.
Supt Ahmad said the fourth suspect did not return to the car as he had fled from the scene.
He said the e-hailing driver managed to escape before lodging a police report on the same day.
She suffered swelling and bruises on several parts of her body, as well as compression marks on her neck.
Supt Ahmad said medical examinations confirmed that the injuries sustained by the victim were caused by an assault.
The case is being investigated under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt using a weapon or dangerous object.
He said all four teenagers were arrested the same afternoon to assist in investigations.
