3 taxi touts fined RM6,400 for soliciting

SEPANG: Three taxi touts, who were detained for soliciting customers, were fined RM6,400 at the Sessions Court here yesterday.

Muhammad Bakri Manggong, 53, and Wong Tai San, 57, were fined RM2,500 each, while L. Prem Nathan, 27, was fined RM1,400 and sentenced to two days’ jail.

All pleaded guilty to the charges read to them before judge Norul Fitri Hamdan.

They were detained by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) on Wednesday during its two-day crackdown, codenamed Op Parasit, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2).

The three men were charged under Section 205 (1) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010, for soliciting and touting.

Yesterday, SPAD enforcement division chief Datuk Paduka Che Hasni Che Ahmad said the commission had beefed up its enforcement operations in conjunction with the Sea Games (KL2017), especially at the airports.

He said taxi touts were targeting foreigners, with some of them charging tourists US$100 (RM430) for a one-way trip to Kuala Lumpur.

“KLIA is a hot spot for taxi touts. Despite tough enforcement activities, they are not deterred, because this is their rice bowl.”

Che Hasni said his team would continue its enforcement crackdown on illegal taxi services at KLIA, and would show no mercy to any irresponsible individual.

From January to August this year, 111 taxi touts were arrested in similar operations at KLIA and klia2.

Out of this number, 90 touts were arrested at klia2.

SPAD detained 38 illegal taxi drivers within the same period.