Man hacks barber with axe after haircut

An Indian national barber needed 30 stitches after he was hacked with an axe by a customer at his shop in Desa Mutiara Indah, Batu Maung near here yesterday.

South West police chief Supt Mohd Hatta Mohd Zain said after having a haircut about 5.30 pm the suspect had claimed that his friend would come to the shop and pay for it.

"However, 15 minutes later when there was no sign of the friend, the suspect had asked the barber for money but was refused," he said in a statement here today.

The enraged suspect then took out a 24-inch axe and hacked the victim's head, shoulder, hand and back before speeding off on a motorbike, he said.

The victim, who is known as Semanathan, in his 30s, received more than 30 stitches as an outpatient at the Penang Hospital.

Mohd Hatta said police were in the process of finalising a photo fit of the suspect and the case will be investigated under Section 394 of the Penal Code.