Penang bridge attack solved with arrest of five men

Police have detained five men to facilitate investigations into the assault of a businessman as well as abduction and rape of his female companion at the Penang Bridge on Sunday.

A police spokesman said the men aged between 23 and 25 were nabbed in Butterworth between last night and early this morning.

"Based on information and intelligence, police managed to track down one of the men late last night before rounding up four of his friends in separate raids around Butterworth near here.

"They are believed to be members of a gang that robs victims in the wee hours, and records also showed their involvement in a few other cases in Kuala Lumpur," said the spokesman here today.

Penang CID deputy chief ACP Nasir Salleh was earlier reported saying that the businessman aged 46, and his companion, a foreigner aged 22, were returning to Seberang Perai and had pulled over at the Penang bridge around 3.30 am when they were approached by the group on the pretext of asking for directions.

The group attacked the man and drove away in his Hyundai Elantra car with the woman, who they allegedly raped and abandon at an isolated location in Sungai Dua, about five kilometres from the scene of the incident.

Meanwhile, Seberang Perai Tengah police chief ACP Rusli Mohd Noor when met at a function here, confirmed the arrest of the men and said police considered the case as solved.

The men have been remanded until Aug 12.