GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA: A doctor had allegedly attempted to knock down a lawyer with his car and even slapped him outside the courts in Light Street here.

The 38-year-old physician has been remanded for six days over the Wednesday morning incident.

He is under investigation for attempted murder and criminal intimidation.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Azam Abd Hamid said the doctor turned up at the Patani Road police station with his lawyer at about 8.30pm on Wednesday.

Police had earlier failed to locate him at his clinic.

He said the police arrested the doctor after receiving a report from the lawyer.

According to the police report, the lawyer said he was crossing the road when a car accelerated towards him.

He said he avoided being hit by jumping onto the pavement.

When the car came to a stop, the doctor rushed towards him and slapped him.

He said the doctor also threatened to kill him.

He said a policeman who happened to be there managed to defuse the situation and the doctor drove off.

The Bar Council sent a representative, S.C. Ravi Chandran, to the courthouse where the remand proceedings took place yesterday to keep the Bar updated on the outcome.

Penang Bar committee chairman N. Mureli said lawyers should not be subjected to intimidation as they must feel safe to carry out their work without fear.

Since he is under remand, the doctor did not turn up for trial at the magistrate's court yesterday for threatening to harm a man and his family on Feb 1, 2007.

The case has been postponed to Nov 26.