SUNGAI PETANI: An elderly e-hailing driver miraculously escaped unhurt despite being stabbed in the chest during an attempted robbery by his passenger, a 13-year-old schoolboy.
The 65-year-old must be thanking his lucky stars as the tip of the knife had struck his seatbelt during the 6.20pm incident in Taman Keladi here on Monday.
The boy, whose one-day remand expired yesterday, could face charges under Section 393 of the Penal Code for attempted robbery, said Kuala Muda District Police chief Asst Comm Zaidy Che Hassan.
In his haste to snatch the driver’s cash, the boy took out a knife and stabbed the driver.
“The tip hit the seatbelt instead. By then, the driver managed to put up a struggle and grab hold of the knife.
“He bit the boy’s hand and the suspect fled the car. We recovered a knife measuring 25cm long in the car,” he said.
ACP Zaidy said the ordeal started when the driver picked up the boy in Lorong Keladi 12, Taman Keladi, to go to Lorong Astana 9/7 in Bandar Seri Astana.
“During the journey, the boy suddenly asked for RM50 from the driver to pay his house rent”.
The driver responded by saying that if the boy did not have money, he would be dropped off on the spot.
“But the boy refused and asked to be brought to the house in Bandar Seri Astana to get money to pay for the ride.”
Under investigation: The 13-year-old boy being escorted by policemen following a report lodged by the driver.
The boy later asked to be brought back to Taman Keladi and the driver did receive a payment of RM18.
“He then directed the driver through several alleys. The driver eventually dropped him off and requested an additional payment of RM9.
“While in the midst of giving him change for an RM20 note, the boy stabbed him but missed,” said ACP Zaidy.
Police arrested the boy from his house at 10pm on the same day following a report lodged by the driver.
“Investigations found that the boy is the eldest of four siblings in a family.
“He did not come from a problematic background.
“The reason he acted in such a way was due to anger. He was scolded by the driver and he was trying to get back his money,” added ACP Zaidy.
A recording of the incident on the driver’s interior dashcam has since gone viral on social media.
