GEORGE TOWN: The assault on a Penang exco member Jagdeep Singh Deo near a restaurant in Tanjung Bungah was neither revenge nor politically motivated, says Penang police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.

       It could have been a result of a misunderstanding, he added.

       He said both Jagdeep, 51, and the alleged assailant – a 60-year-old foreign national – lodged police reports over the incident.

       “It happened in the parking lot in front of the restaurant.

       “Investigations found that the victim and the suspect did not know each other. They were with their families then,” he told reporters at the state police headquarters in Penang Road here yesterday.

       On Thursday, Jagdeep, who is the state local government, housing, town and country planning committee chairman, suffered a broken left ankle after he was allegedly shoved to the ground during the incident. He is now warded at a private hospital.

       Comm Mohd Shuhaily said the foreigner, who works here, was remanded for two days and released on Sunday.

       “We are also probing if the suspect was intoxicated at that time,” he said.

       The case is being investigated under Section 325 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt. The police have submitted the investigation papers to the Deputy Public Prosecutor’s Office for further action.