Man jumps to his death after refusing to pay cab fare

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia — For not wanting to pay a RM3 (Malaysian ringgit) taxi fare, a Bangladeshi man lay dead on the highway.

The man, known as Ashraful, had jumped nearly 10 meters off a bridge to escape his pursuing taxi driver.

Mohd Rawi Che Som said he was flagged down by Ashraful and his friend in front of the Pelangi Damansara flats in Mutiara Damansara on Thursday.

The 29-year-old man Ashraful asked to go to Sunway Giza, some 3 kilometers away.

As the taxi was passing the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) on Persiaran Surian, Ashraful asked how much the fare would cost.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst. Comm. Azmi Abu Kassim said the driver told them the expected fare – about RM3 – but Ashraful said he would not pay.

An argument started.

The driver told the duo he would not let them get off without payment. He claimed that Ashraful’s friend reacted by choking him and a scuffle broke out.

The taxi came to a stop outside the Palm Spring Condominium off Persiaran Surian and the two jumped off the car chased by the taxi driver.

Azmi said witnesses saw the Bangladeshi man climbed over the railing and jumped onto the highway below.

Ashraful hit the hard pavement and died of head injuries. His friend was seen running towards a petrol station a few kilometers from the bridge, Azmi said.

Police are still tracking him down. KS