Khairul Izzat Mohd Zaki, 22, who had serious burns on his face, body and hand was rushed to the Penang Hospital while his friend, Mohd Sufri Zulkifli, 19, was injured on the neck and treated at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB).
Khairul Izzat's brothers, Hasbullah Mohsin, 19, and Ahmad Humaidi, 11, and cousin Loqman Hakim Said, 22, who were slightly hurt were also treated at HSB.
Salmah Salleh, 51, said, prior to the incident, she, her sons Khairul Izzat, Hasbullah Mohsin and Ahmad Humaidi, their friends, several other family members and Bakar Kapur Village Development and Security committee chairman Saad Bakar had gone to the suspect's house at 5pm to discuss outstanding rentals.
"The suspect, who is in his 60s, was not home except for his wife and children. After waiting for almost an hour, I went home leaving my children and the others to continue waiting for the suspect.
"I rushed back after hearing screams and was shocked when I saw my three children and two others in the river nearby, writhing in pain," Salmah said.
She said her sons' friends told her that the suspect, who had just returned home, had quickly entered the house, before reemerging to splash acid from a plastic bottle on the five, forcing them to jump into the river to wash off the pain and itch from the acid.
She said the suspect and his family hid inside the house after the incident and only surrendered to the police who arrived at the scene after they were contacted.
The suspect and his family were said to have rented the house from August last year for RM150 monthly and did not pay rental from February.
Kota Setar District Police deputy chief, Supt Rohana Omar said the 63-year-old suspect was remanded from today until July 29 to help in investigations.
