KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 — A Taiwanese tourist who recently arrived in Malaysia is currently fighting for her life at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital after falling victim to a failed snatch theft attempt yesterday afternoon.
The victim, identified as 55-year-old Liu Ling, is currently unconscious and in critical condition under a ventilator life support system.
She suffered a four-cm gash and has since lost consciousness after her head struck the curb along the pedestrian walkway during the botched theft.
Dang Wangi OCPD Assistant Commissioner Shaharuddin Abdullah said the victim underwent an emergency surgery this morning to remove blood clots from the trauma wounds.
“Checks showed she was travelling alone. However, we have already informed the embassy, and I understand the victim’s family is set to arrive here within a day or two,” he said.
Shaharuddin said the episode took place as the victim was making her way to the National Mosque from the Islamic Arts Museum along Jalan Perdana slightly before noon.
“Closed-circuit television (CCTV) recordings showed a single suspect on a motorcycle, who after spotting the victim made a U-turn and rode his bike on the pedestrian walkway.
“He approached the victim from behind and tried snatching her bag, but failed as she had it slung around her body, and instead fled the scene,” he said.
Shaharuddin said the force of the suspect’s tug caused the victim to fall over, as she struck the right side of her head against the concrete curb.
The victim was then brought to hospital by a Malaysian Red Crescent ambulance and was immediately treated at the red, or critical zone, of the emergency department.
Shaharuddin said checks revealed the victim, who is expected to undergo an X-ray and a CT scan today, had entered Malaysia on April 15 and was checked in to a hotel along Jalan Hang Kasturi.
He said no suspects have been arrested so far, as forensic investigators are trying to positively identify the alleged culprits through the CCTV recordings.
