JOHOR BARU: A mechanic and his two staff were injured when a man drove off in his BMW fitted with upgraded accessories without settling the RM38,000 bill at a workshop in Taman Setia Tropika, here, yesterday.
Johor Baru (North) police chief Assistant Commissioner Balveer Singh, said the 29-year-old mechanic who owned the workshop, lodged a report yesterday.
He claimed a man in a BMW sent the car to be fitted with accessories on Saturday (Sept 7), which resulted in a bill of RM38,000.
The vehicle was fitted with new tyres, sports rims, and other accessories.
The 40-year-old customer left his vehicle at the workshop after agreeing on the price.
He returned to the workshop yesterday with another man and requested to test-drive the repaired car.
Fearing the customer might leave without settling the bill, the workshop owner instructed his 23-year-old employee to accompany the pair.
During the test drive in Taman Bukit Kempas, the customer stopped the car a short distance from the workshop and complained of a knocking sound coming from the trunk.
He requested the workshop employee to check the car's trunk.
When the worker opened the door, the customer's accomplice sprayed him with pepper spray, and the two men then left the scene.
Balveer said the owner, who witnessed the incident, attempted to stop the suspects by clinging on to the car's side mirror at a traffic light junction, but almost got hit.
Another worker, aged 29, attempted to give chase on a motorcycle, but the BMW driver allegedly crashed into him.
He said the 23-year-old employee who was initially inside the car suffered eye irritation due to the pepper spray, while the 29-year-old fractured his right arm and sustained injuries to his knees and wrists as a result of the crash.
The workshop owner suffered an elbow injury while attempting to stop the suspects.
He said the total loss was estimated at RM43,000.
The case is being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Other charges include Section 324 for voluntarily causing harm with dangerous weapons, and Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, for reckless and dangerous driving.
Police are actively tracking the suspects and urged the public with information to contact investigating officer Assistant Superintendent Nazarul Izwan Abdul Manaf at 019-381 1817.