A Singaporean debt collector is accused of violently attacking a Malaysian driver, leaving him with severe injuries, including a damaged eye and torn tendons in his hand. The shocking incident took place on 6 September at Plaza Sentosa in Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru.
Photos shared online showed the 21-year-old victim lying in hospital with deep wounds on his head, multiple stitches on his fingers, and a bloodied left eye. According to Malaysian media, the suspect is in his forties and is said to double up as a social media influencer. He has since gone into hiding.
The driver, who had been employed as the suspect’s personal chauffeur only three days earlier, was allegedly accused of stealing a vape. What began as a verbal dispute escalated into a violent assault involving a glass bottle.
Allegations of Bottle Attack and Threats
Reports claim the driver was asked to search for the missing vape under a table. While he was doing so, he was allegedly struck on the head with a glass bottle that shattered on impact. The Singaporean then reportedly used the broken glass to stab the driver in his left eye and attempted to slash his face and neck.
The victim’s older brother told reporters that his sibling suffered torn tendons and required stitches on nearly all his fingers. He also alleged that the suspect threatened to kill the victim and his family during the attack.
Despite the victim’s efforts to defend himself, he was left with multiple injuries and later filed a police report on 7 September. Johor Bahru South police confirmed that investigations are ongoing for “causing grievous hurt” and “robbery with hurt”.
Debt Collection Agency Under Scrutiny
The Singaporean suspect is believed to be linked to a debt collection agency that operates not only in Singapore but also across Malaysia and Cambodia. Attempts by local media to contact the agency went unanswered, with one call being abruptly cut off.
Police have emphasised that they are still piecing together the full account of events, as only one side of the story has been formally documented so far. Authorities are now working to track down the fugitive suspect.
This case has drawn attention to the risks faced by young Malaysians seeking quick employment and the violent methods allegedly used by some debt recovery operators in the region.
Image Source:China Press