A Chinese national was abducted by a group of men at a rest area in the Penang Bridge early morning today, before taking her to an area in Butterworth and taking turns to rape her.

In the 3.30am incident, the 20-year-old was raped by three out of the four men who abducted her.

The incident happened when the victim was heading to Butterworth in a car driven by her 49-year-old male friend after patronising an entertainment outlet in George Town.

The victim’s friend stopped at the rest area to relieve himself while the victim waited alone in the car. It was then that they were approached by four men who pretended to be lost and asked for directions.

The men, however, punched the victim's friend and abducted her with the car before taking her to a dark area in Butterworth and forcing themselves on her.

The woman was later taken on one of the suspect's motorcycle and dropped off at a petrol station in Sungai Dua.

She got the help of passersby who sent her to a police station to report the incident.

The victim and her friend also lost RM1,000 and were robbed off their mobile phones by the suspects.

In confirming the matter, Penang deputy CID Chief ACP Nasir Salleh said the police are investigating the case to identify the suspects.