Kuala lumpur: A local woman who is suspected of being a taxi tout and was arrested by the Selangor Road Transport Department (JPJ) following a viral video of a foreign tourist being cheated, is believed to have been operating in a group. Selangor JPJ director Azrin Borhan said the information was obtained after questioning the suspect in her 30s, who was arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 2 (T2) at 1 am this morning, adding that his department is now tracking down the remaining members of the group.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the suspect’s arrest followed the circulation of a video on social media two days ago, showing a foreign tourist being deceived by ‘touts’ at KLIA T2. The JPJ consequently conducted an undercover operation, successfully apprehending the suspect who was attempting to deceive a Filipino tourist heading to the city centre. Azrin Borhan noted during a press conference that his team seized a black Perodua Axia vehicle, which the woman is believed to have rented from another individual.
Azrin explained that the woman’s modus operandi involved approaching foreign tourists at the airport, offering them seemingly cheap transportation services to the capital. The suspect claimed she engaged in this activity to earn extra income and reportedly managed to conduct three trips a day. The case is currently being investigated under Section 205(1) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010, which carries a penalty of a fine not exceeding RM50,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or both.
From January until today, 143 taxi touts have been detained, with fines amounting to RM419,200. Azrin emphasized the Selangor JPJ’s commitment to combating tout activities at KLIA and advised the public to utilize legal taxi services. The incident that brought this issue to light occurred on September 15, when a video captured a foreign tourist negotiating a fare of RM60 for a bus ride to a hotel in the capital. However, upon arrival, the driver refused to stop, instead driving to a secluded area before demanding an exorbitant fare of RM836, approximately 14 times the agreed amount.