Timur Laut police chief Abdul Rozak Muhammad said the 30-year-old cop on duty detained the duo at 4.30pm after they were found acting suspiciously outside the gates of the Penang police headquarters.

The two suspects, aged 19 and 20, were believed to be drunk and were brought to the guard post for further checks, he said.

“After they were brought to the guard post, the suspects began acting aggressively, punching the face and biting the chest of the policeman, leaving him with a swollen right eye and bruises on his chest.

“The suspects also hurled vulgarities at the cop. They were then arrested,” he said in a statement, adding that the youths had been remanded until Wednesday for further investigation.

The case is being probed for voluntarily causing hurt and using insulting words with the intent of provoking a breach of the peace, under Section 323 of the Penal Code and Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act, respectively.