Motorists in Negri latest victims of extortion
KUALA LUMPUR: A couple who staged road accidents and then extorted compensation from unsuspecting motorists in the Klang Valley six months ago is believed to have struck again, this time in Negri Sembilan.
Their victims were two vehicle rental company owners operating in Seremban from whom the couple rented cars to pull off their acts since early September.
Both rental vehicles were later found extensively damaged by the owners and abandoned, with the couple nowhere in sight.
One of the victims, who only wanted to be known as Mohd Iqbal, said the man and woman had rented a car from him between Oct 4 and 18.
He said when they defaulted on payments for two days, he tried contacting them, but the couple were unreachable.
The 40-year-old said he managed to track down the car, which was found parked opposite a building and was badly damaged.
The other car rental company owner, Fitri Sinan, 41, also suffered losses after the couple rented a car from him for five days in September.
“The couple later told me that the car was involved in an accident but refused to reveal its whereabouts. But I traced it to a car workshop.
“This is when I learnt that this couple was notorious and had been involved in staging accidents to extort money,” he said.
Soon after, Mohd Iqbal and Fitri lodged police reports and took their cases to MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong.
Chong said he learnt that the couple had logged over 100 police reports on road accidents they had allegedly caused over the past months.
“This goes to show they could be behind dozens of such cases. The latest information we received was that they are now in Melaka, and we believe for the same motive.
“This has gone overboard, and the couple is still out there ‘making a living’ staging accidents, blackmailing and extorting cash from affected motorists.
“I dread to think if someday their actions lead to a fatal accident or endanger the lives of innocent children who are on board a vehicle they target.
“I urge the police and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to act swiftly to put an end to this.
“I find this case very peculiar as they remain unapprehended despite over 100 cases involving them,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Chong also said that affected motorists had suffered losses when they paid for their repairs or lost their no-claim discount when they made insurance claims for the damage to their vehicles.
Cautioning motorists to be alert of this notorious couple, he said he was compiling all the cases suspected to be committed by them and hopes to bring it to the attention of the police.
In May, Chong had raised the matter to alert the public after being approached by a dozen motorists who fell victim to the man and woman.
According to the victims, the man who was often the driver would deliberately cause collisions between his vehicle and theirs before demanding compensation for the repairs at the scene of the accident.
He often demanded large sums but usually settled for a lesser amount after negotiations.
