KUALA TERENGGANU – A travel agency is under investigation by the Terengganu police for allegedly failing to manage a retiree’s haj package.
State Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief M. Zambri Mahmud said police received a report on the case on July 7 from a victim who claimed to have been cheated by the agency.
“An investigation paper has been opened under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating,” he said in a statement today.
According to him, an initial investigation found that the 62-year-old retiree made the first payment of RM3,000 on June 2.
“The full payment of RM35,000 was made into a bank account belonging to the travel agency, making the total loss RM38,000,” he said.
M. Zambri said the agency’s owner then gave various excuses and failed to book the flight ticket, leaving the victim stranded at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on July 7.
“The suspect will be arrested soon after the investigation with other police contingents is completed.
“The public is advised to be careful in the selection of haj packages and travel agencies,” he added.
In a similar case on July 7, around 380 prospective haj pilgrims were stranded at KLIA, believed to have been cheated by a travel agency.
The group, who was gathered at Level 5, KLIA Departure Hall, are said to have been issued furada visas, or private haj visas, to perform their pilgrimage without going through Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH).
The furada visa is a private visa reportedly issued by Saudi Arabia without involving the quota allocated to TH.
According to a pilgrim who only wanted to be known as Adi, the travel agency had asked the group under its charge to be at KLIA, as the flight was expected to depart at 4.30pm, but they were later informed it had been postponed to 7pm.
“On checking, we found that the last flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia was at about 6pm today and so far, we have not received any news from the travel agency’s representative,” he said. – Bernama, July 11, 2022
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