Armed robbers attack man at Puteri Harbour in Johor; 2 suspects arrested

JOHOR — An online e-commerce business owner suffered injuries to his head and hands after a gang robbery in Johor, Malaysia, on Monday (March 13). 

Video of the incident posted by Malaysian newspaper The Star showed three armed men in two vehicles blocking the back and front of a third car before attacking its driver with parangs and an axe.

After a struggle where the driver appears to be slashed with a parang, he then attempts to drive off in an apparent bid to escape, hitting both assailants' cars in the process. 

The car initially manages to flee from the scene, but then comes to a stop a few meters away as it strikes a curb. The assailants follow it on foot, continuing their assault on the man, while robbing him at the same time. 

Johor's China Press reported that the victim is a 23-year-old man who owns an e-commerce business. 

According to Malaysian news agency Bernama, the attack happened at 9.45am on Monday at a condominium building lobby in Puteri Harbour in Johor's Iskandar Puteri region, which is about 25 minutes by car from the Tuas Checkpoint.

The victim is in a stable condition and has been discharged from a private hospital.

Meanwhile, two men aged 40 and 45 had been arrested within the day of the incident — one at 10.15am and another at 9pm on the same day. 

Iskandar Puteri district police chief Rahmat Arrifin said that the cops also seized RM10,000 (S$2,993) in cash, as well as machetes believed to have been used in the assault, reported Bernama. 

"They admitted that they had hit the victim's car and caused him injuries," he said. 

Mr Rahmat added that police are tracking down a third suspect still at large. AGENCIES