Angry mob attacks auto shop owner over alleged water theft

[EndoftheWorld]

Published: Friday November 14, 2014 MYT 8:59:00 PM
Updated: Friday November 14, 2014 MYT 9:52:22 PM

Angry mob attacks auto shop owner over alleged water theft

by natasha joibi

The mob broke the windows of the jeep, forcing the auto shop owner out of the vehicle.

KAJANG: Dispute over water supply between an auto shop in Batu 11.5, Jalan Cheras and a nearby village may have led to an attack on the 38-year-old shop owner by a group of men.

The auto shop had been reportedly “stealing” water from the main water pipe, affecting supply to the village.

Police, however, are still ascertaining possible motives behind the attack.

District deputy OCPD Supt Abdul Ghani Mohamad Ji said the victim, known only as Ah Soon, was with his 43-year-old business partner in Nilai when he received a call from his distressed father around 10pm, Thursday.

Ah Soon’s father told him that a group of men were at the auto shop compound, prompting the duo to rush back to Jalan Cheras.

Supt Abdul Ghani said that when they had arrived at the shop, seven to eight men alighted from four vehicles and surrounded the Jeep Cherokee the business partners were travelling in.

“The men started breaking the windows and forced Ah Soon out of the jeep.

“They started beating him up, causing fractures to his skull and cheekbones,” he added on Friday.

According to Supt Abdul Ghani, Ah Soon’s business partner had remained in the car and was uninjured.

Ah Soon’s father escaped unscathed.

Police soon arrived at the scene but the suspects left a car behind in their haste to escape.

Ah Soon was rushed to Hospital Kajang for treatment.

Supt Abdul Ghani said police managed to retrieve parang, rambo knives and hammers from the site, believed to have been used to damage the jeep and injure the victim.

“We scrutinised the car that was left behind and were able to obtain evidence to identify a suspect.

“We are on the verge of making arrests in connection to the case,” he explained.

Supt Abdul Ghani said police believed that the suspects could have been from the village.

“Even if allegations of the auto shop stealing water were true, violence is not the way to deal with it,” he added.