Alor Gajah police chief Ahmad Abu Bakar said the suspects comprised two boys aged 15 and 17, and two girls aged 14. Only one of them is still schooling.

He said the victim, 41, picked up the teens in the Bukit Rambai area around 12.30am on May 14, and was going to drop them off at Pekan Kuala Sungai Baru, Sinar Harian reported.

“Upon arriving near a forest area in Kuala Sungai Baru, one of the suspects asked the victim to stop the vehicle, claiming they were looking for someone and that they did not have money to pay for the trip.

“A few minutes later, three of the suspects allegedly attacked the victim with a hard object and strangled the victim from behind, before threatening and warning her not to seek help,” he said.

After the suspects alighted, the victim drove off and lodged a police report. She suffered bruises on her body and had strangulation marks on her neck.

According to Ahmad, the victim claimed one of the girls hit her with a metal rod while the other pulled her hair. She also claimed that one of the boys strangled her while the other fled the scene.

All four suspects were arrested later that day and remanded until today. The case is being investigated for causing hurt with a dangerous weapon.