By M. Sivanantha Sharma

BUKIT MERTAJAM, MALAYSIA: A 44-year-old travel agency owner in Taman Mutiara here has been arrested for allegedly selling non-existent tour packages worth over RM1mil (S$417,700).

The 136 victims included honeymooning couples who had paid between RM5,000 and RM15,000 to the agency for tour packages to Taiwan, Japan, India and New Zealand since November last year.

The victims are from Penang, Kedah and Kuala Lumpur.

The tour agency owner was arrested on Sunday after six victims lodged a police report. They had paid her more than RM17,000 a few months back for their tour packages.

Victim Ong Sea Khoon, 42, and his wife had turned up at the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas on Saturday morning to catch a flight to Tokyo - only to find out there was no such "seven-day tour of Japan" package booked under his name.

"We were supposed to be in transit at the KL International Airport where six friends would be joining us. They were also cheated as I had booked the trip on their behalf.

Ong said he then called the travel agent only to receive another shock.

"I called the agency owner. She told me she did not book the tour as she had run out of money. She then promised to return my money but failed to give me a date.

"I was unhappy with her explanation and subsequently lodged a report at the district police headquarters," he told reporters at a press conference organised by the state MCA Public Complaints Bureau yesterday.

Ong said he also lodged another police report when he recently received a call from an unidentified man threatening him with bodily harm if he did not withdraw his earlier report.

Bureau chief Tan Teik Cheng advised the public not to be swayed by cheap tour packages, adding that it was better for them to deal with reputable agencies.

Police sources said the suspect had been remanded, and the order would expire today.

- The Star/Asia News Network