An 85-year-old man in Malaysia has died after a suspected thief allegedly broke into his home in the dark and violently attacked him and his wife during the early hours of May 7.
The incident reportedly took place at the couple’s residence in Perak at around 4am. According to Chinese-language newspaper Sin Chew Daily, the elderly victim, identified as Zheng Kaigong through transliteration, suffered severe injuries during the attack.
His wife was also badly injured in the incident.
Family members were later alerted about the break-in and rushed the unconscious man to Manjung Hospital for emergency treatment. Despite medical efforts, he later succumbed to his injuries at about 3pm on the same day.
The shocking case has sparked concern among residents over home security and elderly safety, especially in quieter residential areas where senior citizens may be living alone.
Wife Found Covered In Blood By Passing Resident
A local resident identified only as Yu told reporters that he was riding his motorcycle to the market at around 4.50am when he spotted the victim’s wife standing by the roadside covered in blood.
According to Yu, the distressed woman pleaded with him to help save her husband.
When he entered the house, he reportedly found Zheng lying in a pool of blood inside the living room. Although the elderly man was still conscious at the time, his speech was said to be slurred and unclear due to his injuries.
Yu added that he noticed multiple wounds on the victim’s head and body before immediately seeking assistance from another neighbour. The neighbour subsequently contacted the couple’s children.
The horrifying scene has since drawn widespread attention online, with many netizens expressing sympathy for the elderly couple and concern over violent crimes targeting vulnerable residents.
Suspect Allegedly Cut Off Electricity Before Entering Home
According to Zheng’s wife, only one intruder was believed to have been involved in the break-in.
The suspect allegedly cut off the home’s electricity supply before entering the property, possibly to prevent the elderly couple from identifying him in the darkness.
Relatives of the victims later discovered that mobile phones and wallets belonging to the couple were missing from the house, leading investigators to suspect robbery as a possible motive.
Authorities also reportedly found a rusty axe and a knife outside the residence. However, investigators said there were no visible bloodstains on the items and it remains unclear whether they were connected to the fatal assault.
Police currently believe the attacker may have used a blunt object or wooden stick instead of a knife, based on the nature of the victims’ injuries.
Manjung district police chief Assistant Commissioner Hasbullah Abd Rahman said an official statement regarding the case is expected to be released soon as investigations continue.
Photo via Sin Chew Daily