E-hailing driver suffers trauma and loss of income after false accusation of kidnapping

JOHOR-BAHRU: An e-hailing driver has suffered trauma and lost income after being falsely accused of attempting to kidnap a passenger during the alleged August 11 incident.

The 54-year-old, who wanted to be identified only as Wong, continued to receive threatening phone calls and his identity and the registration number of his vehicle were shared online, despite police confirmation that there were no criminal elements of kidnapping in the case.

“Along with my face and car, my location has also been shared on social media. I feel unsafe. I have even received calls from people claiming to be relatives of the passenger. They want to meet me and if I refuse, they threaten to harm me.

“I am being treated like a criminal. For my protection, I filed two police reports on August 11 and 15. I never had any intention to kidnap anyone. I hope the public will stop these false accusations and harassment,” he said at a press conference at the MCA office today.

Wong, who previously worked as a taxi driver for 30 years, said the allegations made him afraid to return to e-hailing services, resulting in a loss of up to RM300 a day.

Meanwhile, Heng Zhi Li, head of civil service and complaints at MCA Youth, hoped the convictions and harassment would stop as they could cause harm.

On August 18, Johor Bahru North District Police Chief ACP Balveer Singh Mahindar Singh confirmed that there was no kidnapping attempt involving the e-hailing driver and a 17-year-old female passenger.

Balveer Singh was quoted as saying that the incident was due to a misunderstanding.

The driver had changed the route due to road works on the original route without informing the passenger, which resulted in the passenger jumping out of the car.