SEPANG — A woman accused of trying to cheat a foreign tourist of RM836 for an unauthorised taxi ride from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to the city centre is expected to be charged at the magistrates’ court today, according to the New Straits Times (NST).

The woman, believed to be in her 40s, will face a charge under Section 205(1) of the Land Public Transport Act for touting and offering transport services without valid authorisation.

If convicted, she could face a fine of up to RM50,000, a jail term of up to five years, or both.

The NST reported that the accused, dressed in a light green top and blue jeans, arrived at the court complex this morning accompanied by a man and was later seen entering the courtroom with a Road Transport Department (RTD) officer.

Selangor RTD director Azrin Borhan told the paper yesterday that prosecutors will seek a court order to strip ownership of the vehicle that was seized as part of the investigation.

The woman was detained at around 1am on September 22 during an RTD operation at KLIA Terminal 2.

Investigations found she had just secured a deal with a passenger from the Philippines and was preparing to drive to Kuala Lumpur when RTD officers intercepted her.

According to NST, the woman was known to initially charge RM83 but would later increase the fare significantly upon arrival at the destination.

In the latest case, she allegedly demanded RM836 from the tourist upon reaching a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, sparking outrage after the incident went viral online.