BUKIT MERTAJAM: A Foodpanda delivery rider has lodged a police report after he was allegedly assaulted by a customer here yesterday.
The 34-year-old man experienced pain on the left side of his neck as well as his wrist and back of his left hand after he was kicked and punched, besides having racial-oriented profanities hurled towards him.
A footage of the incident has since gone viral on Facebook.
The 11.05am incident happened when the delivery rider arrived at a house in Lorong Seri Impian 8, Alma here to deliver the 33-year-old customer's order.
Immediately after, the customer came out of the house and started hurling racial-oriented profanities towards the delivery rider.
The customer then resorted to kicking and punching the delivery rider on his face.
Dissatisfied, the delivery rider lodged a report for fear of his safety and his job.
Seberang Prai Tengah district police chief Assistant Commissioner Shafee Abd Samad said investigation revealed the victim had contacted the suspect before arriving to confirm the address given through WhatsApp due to some confusion.
He said as soon as the suspect confirmed the address, the victim went to the scene, and upon arrival, the suspect opened the main gate and started scolding the victim.
"The victim then handed over the order to the suspect, and in return, he gave him a RM50 note. As the victim was counting the balance, the suspect started hurling abuses, accusing the victim of being slow.
"The suspect then took his money back from the victim's hand and gave him the food order, saying he did not want it anymore.
"The victim then told the suspect he would lodge a report with Foodpanda over the order cancellation. As a result, the suspect took back the food and threw the money on the floor.
"The victim took the money and put the change on the floor. The suspect then told the victim to pick up the change but he refused. The suspect then kicked and punched the victim," he said.
Shafee said the suspect then went to the victim's motorcycle and touched his cellphone and power bank.
"When the suspect tried to push the motorcycle down, the victim hit the suspect using his helmet.
"The suspect tried to hit back. The fight was however broken off by the house owner," he added, noting that the site is a homestay rented by the suspect for five days through booking.com.
The case is being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for causing grievous hurt.