Cabbie held over RM950 fare
KUALA LUMPUR: A taxi driver, who extorted RM950 from two Bangladeshi passengers for a 10km ride from KL Sentral to Setapak, has been arrested.
The Land Public Transport Commission yesterday said its special force identified and detained the driver, believed to be in his 30s, on Thursday based on a police report lodged on Sept 18.
“We have instructed the driver and the taxi operator to testify at our office. The cab has been seized to assist in our investigations. The driver is being investigated under Section 75 of the Land Public Transport Act 2010. If found guilty, he can be fined not more than RM50,000 or face imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both.”
It said the taxi operator was being investigated under Section 22 of the same act and, if found guilty, could be fined a minimum of RM1,000 but not more than RM500,000 or face imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both.
It was reported that the two victims, who had just arrived here from Kuala Terengganu, were forced to pay RM950 for a 10km ride. The taxi driver initially offered a rate of RM50 per person, but changed his mind when they arrived at their destination.
An argument ensued. However, fearing for their safety, the victims relented as the driver had a wooden stick and metal bat in his car.
The case made headlines and angered Malaysians, among them Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
She said cabbies refusing to charge based on the meter were one of the reasons why consumers were abandoning conventional taxis for e-hailing ride services, such as Uber and Grab.
“The government views this matter seriously as it involves the welfare of passengers, regardless of whether they are locals or foreigners.”