Parang-wielding duo rob taxi driver, friend during drinks outside eatery

KUALA LUMPUR: A taxi driver and his female companion were held at gunpoint on Friday morning by two men who stole their cash and valuables worth around RM3,000 while they were enjoying drinks outside an eatery. The robbery took place around 4am in Jalan Riang Ria, Happy Garden. The 57-year-old taxi driver, known only as Kong, and his 48-year-old friend were having drinks with about ten other friends at the eatery when they gradually left, leaving only Kong and his friend behind.

Suddenly, two men approached them, brandishing parangs and demanding they surrender their valuables. They took the friends' bags and wallets, resulting in a loss of RM1,100 in cash, mobile phones, car keys, and identification documents. Among the stolen items was Kong's friend's mobile phone, which she had purchased only two months ago.

The suspects were wearing helmets, making it difficult to identify them. They fled towards the end of the lane but could not be seen due to the darkness. Kong's friend later recalled seeing one of the suspects entering and exiting an electronic gaming center next to the eatery several days prior to the robbery. After the incident, the suspect was seen loitering around the area, possibly looking for another target.

The eatery and electronic gaming center operators provided CCTV footage to the police, which showed the suspects in the area for a considerable time before the robbery. Fortunately, Kong and his friend were not injured. Brickfields district police chief Assistant Commissioner Hoo Chang Hook confirmed that a report had been filed and the case was being investigated under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code for gang robbery and robbery with a weapon. Efforts to locate the suspects are ongoing.