MIRI, MALAYSIA : A civil servant used a parang to slice off the ear of his colleague in a fit of rage in a suspected workplace bullying incident.

The man, believed to have suffered constant bullying, taunting and humiliation, also slashed the back of his colleague's head several times during working hours.

Both men worked for a Federal Government department in the remote Long Lama district, some 350km inland of here.

It is learnt that surgeons managed to re-attach the ear.

''The man could have died. His attacker was apparently in a fit of rage,'' said a source.

The incident, which occurred about a week ago, only came to light when the man with the missing ear was taken to the Miri Hospital recently for surgery and treatment.

He was initially hospitalised in the Long Lama clinic and then at the Marudi District Hospital but had to be brought to Miri because of the seriousness of the injuries.

Sources said yesterday that the alleged victim of the bully had been arrested and would soon be charged with aggravated assault.

Both men, in their 30s, have been colleagues for the past few years.

Officer-in-charge of Long Lama police station Corporal Wahid Abdullah confirmed a police report had been lodged.

The Long Lama police got wind of the case when both men ended up in the district clinic for treatment.

Both men had had their statements recorded by the police. It is learnt that the police will submit their investigation paper to the police headquarters in Kuching to decide on the next course of action.

It is learnt that the duo had also been given an 'earful' by their superiors and an internal investigation has begun.