SEREMBAN: A transport company director with a fleet of 160 trucks has been arrested for allegedly using hacked Touch ‘n Go cards – a scam that may have been running for more than a year.
Negri Sembilan police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Alzafny Ahmad said the man’s foreign wife was also detained in a Sept 10 raid on their office, where police seized 304 Touch ‘n Go cards and RM400,000 in cash.
“Investigations show the couple bought the cards for RM150 to RM200 each, but every card carried a balance of RM300,” he said.
Police believe the cards were tampered with by another suspect, still at large, who used readily available hardware, software and a specialised smart device to hack the system.
The cards were then handed out to the company’s drivers.
DCP Alzafny said the scam only came to light when the card operator detected discrepancies in its accounts.
Losses for July and August alone amounted to almost RM60,000.
Police are now looking into whether other companies may also be using compromised cards.
The case is being probed under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and the couple has been remanded until today.
In a separate operation, police and several government agencies raided a premises in the Senawang Industrial Area and uncovered almost 400 bags of aluminium dross, a hazardous byproduct of aluminium smelting, worth RM630,000.
A lorry worth RM80,000 was also seized.
A local man, believed to be the owner, and 23 foreigners were arrested.
The case is being investigated under Section 38 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, which carries a penalty of up to five years’ jail, a RM100,000 fine, or both.
The Immigration Department is also investigating the owner as the 23 foreigners did not have valid work permits.
At the same time, the Seremban City Council will act against the owner for storing e-waste at a premises licensed only for recycling, while the Customs Department will take action after uncovering untaxed cigarettes and alcohol inside.
