GEORGE TOWN: Two women were among 17 people arrested by police to assist in the investigation of a riot that stemmed from a fight outside Queen Waterfront Q1 in Bayan Lepas early yesterday morning.
Southwest district police chief Sazalee Adam said the suspects, aged between 19 and 40, were arrested separately at various locations around Bayan Lepas yesterday.
He added that the arrests were made after a clip of the fight, believed to have occurred at 2am, went viral on social media.
"The incident is believed to have stemmed from a misunderstanding between a couple.
"A police report was filed by a male complainant who said he saw his girlfriend with an unidentified man, which led to a minor scuffle between the complainant and the man.
"However, the situation was diffused by the woman," he said when contacted.
Sazalee added that the complainant then called his friends and mother to have a proper discussion with his girlfriend.
The situation, however, turned ugly when 10 men suddenly appeared and started assaulting the complainant with helmets.
He said the complainant managed to escape to a nearby police station, where he lodged a report.
Following the incident, police arrested all those involved in the fight around Bayan Lepas.
"As a result of the arrests, police confiscated five helmets used in the fight from the 17 suspects, who included factory workers, college students, restaurant assistants, traders, and unemployed individuals," he said.
Sazalee added that preliminary investigations showed that three of the suspects had previous records for drug-related offences.
He also said that they have been remanded for four days, and that the case was being investigated under Section 148 of the Penal Code for possessing weapons in a riot.