GERIK: A 54-year-old woman was attacked by one of her sons with a wrench and a rubber-tapping knife while praying in a house in Kampong Bongor, early yesterday morning.
Also injured in the incident was the woman's 15-year-old son, who had tried to protect his mother from his brother's attack.
Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the suspect, 29, barged into a room and repeatedly struck his mother on her face, as well as the left side of her upper body using the two weapons, while she was praying.
"The suspect's younger brother, who was in the bathroom at the time, rushed to the room after hearing his mother screaming and crying for help.
"The suspect then turned on his younger brother and attacked him, when he tried to protect their mother from the assault," Mohd Yusri said when contacted.
Both victims, bleeding from the wounds sustained in the attack, lodged a report at the Bersia police station here at 7.50am on the same day.
"The woman sustained slash wounds and bruises on the top of her head, left cheek, around her left shoulder, as well as on her arm.
"The suspect's younger brother sustained slash wounds on his right calf, right wrist, and scratch marks on the left side of his neck," he said.
Both victims, he added, were rushed and admitted to the emergency department of Gerik Hospital for treatment.
He also said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect was suffering from hallucinations, which led him to attack his mother and younger brother.
The suspect, said Mohd Yusri, had previously been referred to Taiping Hospital, but was released as he did not have any mental health issues at the time.
"The suspect, who is unemployed, also has a previous record, in 2011, under Section 379 of the Penal Code, and had been arrested previously," he added.
Mohd Yusri said police arrested the suspect and seized the weapons used in the attack. The case has been classified under Section 324 of the Penal Code, for voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon.
He is expected to be produced at the Taiping Court today to be remanded.