SIBU: Family members of a restaurant owner who was splashed with acid last Friday said rumours about the victim being involved in a triangular love affair with the dishwasher was untrue.
“They do not have any intimate relationship. It just happened that both had worked in the kitchen in the coffee shop restaurant,” said his younger brother, who identified himself as Poh in a press conference yesterday.
He said the 38-year-old dishwasher woman only worked for three months in the kitchen at Lanang Road and had resigned a month ago.
He revealed that the dishwasher and his injured brother, aged 43, had never met again after the two went their separate ways.
The restaurant owner, who suffered 35 per cent burnt on his body, including his left neck, back and arms, had been referred to Kuching General Hospital and was transported there in a helicopter yesterday at 11am.
He was reported to be in a critical condition.
According to the chef, who identified himself as Ngieng in the press conference, the incident happened last Friday at 3am while he was working with the victim to discuss the next day’s menu in the kitchen at closing time then.
“Only two of us were in the kitchen when the assailant came on a motorcycle.
“He dashed in and accused my boss of disturbing his wife as he claimed my boss had often called her on the telephone.”
He said the angry husband then splashed acid on his boss.
“I did struggle with the assailant and tried to put him down, but he pushed me away and fled.”
After the man fled, Ngieng went to check on his boss and found his body was badly burned.
“He asked me to rush him to the hospital in his car,” said the chef who has worked in the restaurant for six months.
According to Ngieng, after returning from the hospital at 7.30am, he found both tyres of his motorcycle punctured.
He believed it was done by the suspect before the attack.
He said the man used to hang around in the vicinity of the restaurant when his wife was still working there.