KAJANG, Sept 22 — A local woman, suspected of being a taxi tout and arrested by the Selangor Road Transport Department (JPJ) following a viral video of a foreign tourist being scammed, 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 Terminal 2 (KLIA2) at 1am today, adding that his department is tracking down other members of the group.
“After the suspect’s video went viral on social media two days ago about a foreign tourist being cheated by ‘touts’ at KLIA2, the JPJ conducted an undercover operation and successfully apprehended the suspect who was trying to deceive a Filipino tourist heading to the city centre,” he said at a press conference here today.
Azrin said his team also seized a black Perodua Axia used by the woman, believed to have been rented from someone else.
According to him, the woman’s modus operandi was to approach foreign tourists who arrive at the airport and offer them transport to Kuala Lumpur for cheap, later demanding exorbitant rates.
“When she was detained, the woman said she was doing this to earn extra income, and it is understood that she was able to make three trips a day,” he said.
Azrin said the case is being investigated under Section 205(1) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010, which provides for a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or both.
According to him, from January to today, 143 taxi touts have been detained and fined a total of RM419,200.
Azrin said Selangor JPJ will always combat touting at KLIA and advised the public to use legal taxi services.
On September 15, a video of a foreign tourist went viral on social media, revealing that a taxi driver negotiated for a fare of RM60 when the tourist was looking for a bus ride to a hotel in the capital.
However, upon arrival at the hotel, the woman refused to stop the car, instead driving to a secluded area before demanding a fare of RM836, about 14 times the original amount.
