A 52-year-old Malaysian man allegedly beat up his girlfriend using an axe when he discovered that her male friend had complimented her for her looks on social media.
The New Straits Times reported that the 28-year-old woman had returned to their home at Taman Pisang Awak in Penang's George Town last Thursday (Jan 21) night.
A heated argument between the duo then ensued over the praise she had received on Facebook.
Overcome by jealousy, the man reportedly took an axe and hit her on the hands and legs with the axe head, before chasing her out of the house.
She suffered a swollen right eye and bruises on her hands, said Timur Laut District police chief, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mior Faridalatrash Wahid.
The woman subsequently lodged a police report but when police visited the house, they found it empty.
The man is believed to have fled. He had previously been arrested for drug offences, criminal intimidation and theft.
ACP Faridalatrash told reporters that investigations suggest the woman had been attacked out of jealousy.
"The suspect had thought that the victim had another boyfriend, although she denied it," he added.
While the couple were not legally married, they had been staying together for two years and have a four-month-old daughter, New Straits Times reported.
