GEORGE TOWN: The woman, who fell into the sea at KM2.8 of the Penang Bridge yesterday following a confrontation with a man, claimed he had pushed her.
State police chief Datuk Khaw Kok Chin said, based on an initial statement from the 40-year-old woman, she claimed to have been pushed into the sea by her male friend, 37, a senior police officer outside the state.
"Police have opened an investigation paper into the incident under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder.
"Investigation is underway," he told newsmen here today.
He was met after the northeast district police chief's duty handover ceremony between Assistant Commissioner Razlam Abd Hamid and Superintendent V. Saravanan.
Saravanan was the acting district police chief before this.
Razlam was the Taiping district police chief.
Khaw said in the 7.45pm incident, a confrontation broke out between the man and woman before they stopped their car at the stop area on the bridge.
"The woman claimed to have been pushed by the man before they fell together.
"At the same time, a male passer-by who was nearby jumped into the sea to rescue the duo. All of them were rescued by a fishing boat before being taken to the Batu Uban marine jetty," he added, noting that the man and woman were taken to hospital for treatment.
Khaw said police were investigating the case further, including recording statements from witnesses to assist in the investigation.
He said the man was still treated in hospital for head injuries and police would record his statement soon, especially the woman's claim of being pushed.
"We need to get confirmation from other witnesses first that the incident (pushing) really happened before we decide to arrest the man.
"Based on the investigation, the senior police officer has a criminal case under Section 323 of the Penal Code which is pending investigation. The incident allegedly happened in the northeast district recently," he said.
Khaw said the woman, who works in a factory here, escaped unhurt.
It was reported that a confrontation between a man and a woman at KM2.8 of the Penang Bridge yesterday concluded with both of them falling into the sea.
Fortunately, a man believed to be a soldier, who was passing by and saw the incident, jumped into the sea to rescue the two individuals, before helping them onto a fishing boat.