GEORGE TOWN, Feb 18 — The police have launched a massive hunt for a 29-year-old Thai woman believed to be responsible for the acid attack on her husband early yesterday morning.
Northeast district deputy police chief Superintendent Abdul Rahman Ahmad told reporters that the victim, a 47-year-old plumber, was sleeping when his wife allegedly splashed acid on him at about 6.30am yesterday.
“We believe the suspect, who is of Thai nationality, is now on the run and had driven off with the victim’s car, a silver Nissan Livina with the number plate PJU1000,” he said after visiting the crime scene at a flat in Lebuh Macallum here.
He appealed to the public to call the police if they see the car anywhere in the country.
The victim, who was sleeping without his shirt on when he was splashed with acid, suffered serious burns on his face and parts of his upper torso.
He is now being treated at the intensive care unit in the Penang Hospital for the burns.
It is believed that he may be blinded from the acid.
Abdul Rahman said the police are still unsure of the motive behind the attack but believe that the suspect could still be in Penang.
“We have contacted our counterparts in Thailand to keep a lookout for the suspect so that she will be detained if she tries to escape across the border,” he said.
The police are investigating the case under Section 326 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons.
