DRIVER IN TOLL PLAZA ATTEMPTED MURDER CASE REMANDED FOR FIVE DAYS

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Dec 30 (Bernama) - A man has been remanded for five days to facilitate investigations into an alleged attempted murder at the Butterworth Outer Ring Road Toll Plaza near Perai, which occurred last Sunday.

Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) police chief, ACP Helmi Aris, said the 31-year-old suspect was arrested yesterday along with his 23-year-old wife, following a police report lodged by the victim. 

He said investigations revealed that the incident took place on Dec 28, around 11.30 pm, while the victim and his wife were driving towards Penang Sentral.

"The victim's vehicle, driven by his wife, encountered a problem at the RFID lane, which prevented the toll barrier from opening.

"The victim then exited his vehicle, requesting the driver of a Proton X50 behind to reverse his car to make space," he said in a statement today.

However, Helmi said the suspect instead shouted at the man before accelerating his vehicle, striking both the individual and the rear of the victim’s car, before fleeing the scene.

He said the impact caused the victim to sustain scratches on his big toe and pain in several parts of his body, for which he received outpatient treatment.

A team from the Criminal Investigation Division of the SPT district police headquarters arrested the couple yesterday. Both of them tested positive for cannabis, while the man was also found to have a prior criminal record.

He confirmed that the Bukit Mertajam Magistrates' Court granted a five-day remand order against the suspect, a businessman, until Jan 3, 2026, to aid the investigation under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder.

He added that the suspect’s Proton X50 vehicle has also been seized.

—BERNAMA