KUALA LIPIS, MALAYSIA: A robber threw chilli powder into a businesswoman's eyes before attacking her with a broom and wooden chair at the office of an oil palm plantation at Felda Tersang 3 here on Tuesday.

After attacking the woman, he fled with cash and valuables worth RM4,000 ($1,600).

The 44-year-old woman fractured her left hand and had bruises on her body after the attack.

District police chief Superintendent Abdul Razak Hassan said the attack occurred when the woman was in the midst of a discussion with a trader.

The robber , whose face was covered with cloth, walked into the room and threw the chilli powder into her eyes.

"He then attacked her while her client ran away from the room.

"Once on the floor, she buried her face in her hands and passed out."

Razak said the woman was later taken to Kuala Lipis Hospital here before lodging a report on the incident at the Sungai Koyan police station.

He said initial investigations showed that she knew her attacker and police were now tracking him.