Suspected murderer apprehended by Malaysian police after jumping off Penang Bridge

PENANG, MALAYSIA: A 29-year-old man was arrested by police for allegedly murdering a 42-year-old woman on Tuesday (19 Dec).

The suspect attempted to escape justice by jumping from the Penang Bridge, but his life was spared by a group of fishermen, who rescued him from the waters.

A video shared on social media captured a boat ferrying the suspect back to the dock.

Despite this, the suspect made another attempt to leap off the boat. Alert fishermen swiftly seized the suspect’s leg, rescuing him from the water once more and preventing him from endangering himself by drowning.

In a bid to thwart any further perilous actions by the man, the fishermen took the proactive step of tying his hands securely with a rope.

Another disturbing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage revealed a woman dressed in a red shirt being violently attacked by a man wielding a machete.

The assailant mercilessly continued to slash at the woman even after she had fallen to the ground.

After the assault, the man fled the scene, leaving the woman’s companion in a state of utter shock and disbelief.

Asst Comm Mohd Asri Shafie, police chief of The North Seberang Prai Police District,  provided details of the gruesome incident.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, ACP Mohd Asri said the suspect reportedly attacked the victim at Jalan Raja Uda with a machete, slashing the back of her neck.

The victim, identified as a 42-year-old woman, was rushed to Seberang Jaya Hospital, where she was tragically pronounced dead at 11.58 am.

The police were alerted to the incident at 11.10 am when members of the public reported the horrifying crime. A swift response from a team of police from the state Criminal Investigation Department led to the apprehension of the suspect.

Currently, the assailant is receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained during his leap from the bridge.

An initial investigation conducted by the police forensic team revealed that the victim sustained severe wounds to her neck and left shoulder.

The authorities also identified a CCTV near the crime scene, providing crucial evidence for the ongoing investigation.

Eyewitnesses present during the incident are expected to play a pivotal role in shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the crime.

To determine the exact cause of death and gather further evidence, a post-mortem examination on the victim will be carried out at Seberang Jaya Hospital.

The case has been officially classified under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. Authorities are urging the public to come forward with any information related to the incident.