JOHOR BARU: A 34-year-old woman was left with injuries after a man, who had been a client of her digital marketing business, allegedly attempted to abduct her.
The victim, who only wanted to be known as Won, claimed that the man had stalked her and had waited outside a facial spa for two hours on Tuesday (Dec 24) before trying to drag her into his car.
"After I left the spa, he grabbed my wrists and began shouting profanities. He tried to force me into his car, and in the struggle, I fell to the ground while trying to break free," she recounted during a press conference on Friday (Dec 27).
"He also tried to stop me from running by kicking me. It was a terrifying experience as many onlookers just stood there and watched without helping me.
"After about 15 minutes, the beautician from the spa came running out to help before someone called the police."
In addition to the emotional trauma, Won suffered scrapes to her knees and elbows, along with bruises on various parts of her body.
Won explained that despite knowing the man as a client since 2022, she had never met him face-to-face until that day.
He had hired her for digital marketing services for his business.
"When I started my own digital marketing business this year, the man said he wanted to support me by engaging my services to promote his bird’s nest products," she said.
"All forms of communication and payments were made online all this while."
In September, the man lent her a smartphone to promote his business on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, as the app only allows one phone number per account.
However, things soon took an unsettling turn when the man began sending Won inappropriate messages and professing his love for her.
"It made me uncomfortable, so I chose to ignore him. But then he started insulting me and even called me a prostitute," she added.
Won further claimed that the man tracked the phone’s location and appeared at her house at around 3am on Oct 29.
"I didn’t dare to open the door because I felt unsafe, especially with a stranger showing up in the middle of the night. I told him I will give back the phone as long as he stops harassing me and he left after that," added Won.
Despite this, the man continued sending her flowers and gifts, eventually obtaining her office address from a florist, she said.
"I believe that’s how he knew where I worked and followed me to the spa on Tuesday, where he waited near my car for two hours," she said.
"I'm extremely worried for my safety now and don’t feel safe going anywhere alone anymore," said Won, who lives with her 59-year-old single mother.
Won has filed two police reports—on Nov 1 and Dec 24—at the Setia Indah police station.
At the press conference, Johor Bersatu associate wing public complaints bureau chief Lim Thow Siang assured that he would follow up with the police on the case's progress.
He also urged victims of harassment or scams to speak up in order to protect their safety.
Johor Baru South OCPD Asst Comm Raub Selamat confirmed the two police reports and stated that investigations are ongoing.
