Gelang Patah: Police arrested a 33-year-old man just three hours after he allegedly attempted to rob a teenage girl and her grandmother at a house in Gelang Patah here yesterday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Iskandar Puteri district police chief ACP M. Kumarasan detailed that the incident occurred at 11.30 am when the victims, a 14-year-old Chinese national and her grandmother in her 70s, were confronted by an unknown man. The suspect demanded the victims hand over their valuables and proceeded to choke one of them, which led to a struggle between the suspect and the victims.

The suspect, however, fled the scene without obtaining any valuables. Both victims sustained injuries and were subsequently referred to the hospital for treatment. Acting on the information received, a team from the Iskandar Puteri district police headquarters’ Criminal Investigation Division, along with officers from the Tanjung Kupang police station, apprehended the suspect at around 2.30 pm on the same day.

A background check on the suspect revealed two prior criminal records, but the initial urine screening test returned negative for drugs. Police seized a T-shirt and a pair of shorts believed to have been worn during the incident. The suspect has been remanded for seven days, from June 2 to June 8, to assist in the investigations.

The case is currently being investigated under Section 394 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery, an offence punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment, and may also include a fine or whipping if convicted. M. Kumarasan expressed his gratitude to the public for providing information that led to the swift arrest of the suspect.