GEORGE TOWN: Motorists along busy Jalan Magazine and Jalan Lim Chwee Leong here were greeted by an alarming sight last night – a woman's legs dangling and flailing out of the open passenger door of a black Suzuki Swift.
More alarmingly, the car's driver – who was apparently assaulting the woman – was manoeuvring the vehicle through traffic at high speed, causing panic among the public in the 7.45pm incident.
The car, which weaved through traffic, moved erratically from the left to the right side of the road, and occasionally stopped abruptly.
After a prolonged struggle, the woman, who had suffered injuries to her face and mouth, tumbled out of the car and began running down the street, screaming for help. The car sped off in the opposite direction.
A two-minute-seven-second video clip of the incident, captured by a fellow motorist, was uploaded to social media platforms and has since gone viral.
The NST has learnt that the 31-year-old assailant – the 26-year-old woman's husband – was detained at Jalan Patani by police after midnight, following a report lodged by the victim, a factory worker.
"The victim sustained injuries to her face and mouth. We believe the fight broke out due to family issues
"The man, who is unemployed, has a criminal record involving a drug offence," said Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Soffian Santong, when confirming the incident in a statement, today.
He added that the case is being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code and Section 18 of Domestic Violence Act.