SEREMBAN: Police have arrested a 22-year-old passenger who drove off when the e-hailing vehicle owner went to relieve himself at a petrol station here.
District OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Hatta Che Din said police managed to track down the vehicle via GPS and caught the suspect at the parking lot of an apartment block in Seri Subang, Selangor.
“The e-hailing driver picked up the passenger at Taman Bukit Jed at 3.30am on Wednesday and then stopped at a petrol station in Bandar Ainsdale.
“After he had fuelled up, he went to the toilet but left the engine running as the passenger was inside,” he said.
The 61-year-old driver got a shock when he saw his car and the passenger missing after he came out. He then lodged a report.
“We caught the suspect around noon on Thursday and a preliminary probe revealed that he had driven the car away.
“We managed to locate the vehicle,” said ACP Mohamad Hatta.
Checks revealed that the suspect has a criminal record for committing mischief, housebreaking and vehicle theft.
The suspect also tested positive for methamphetamine.
The case is being investigated under Section 379A of the Penal Code, which deals with vehicle theft.
Offenders can be jailed between one and seven years and fined upon conviction.
