POLICE are hunting two foreign men suspected of fleeing with US$30,000 (RM133,000) in cash following a phoney money exchange in front of a restaurant in Ampang Point, Kuala Lumpur, this afternoon.

Ampang Jaya police chief Mohamad Farouk Eshak said one of the two suspects met the victim to exchange US dollars for Malaysian ringgit with the promise of RM15,000 commission.

He said the victim in his 30s took out a package containing the US currency from his rucksack but it was suddenly seized by the suspect who fled to a getaway vehicle.

“The suspect fled in a car driven by an unknown man waiting near the scene of the incident. The suspect also left behind a sum of Malaysian ringgit believed to be counterfeit,” he said in a statement tonight.

Farouk said the victim knew the suspect through a mutual friend who was present during the robbery.

“The case is being investigated under section 395 of the penal code, for unarmed gang robbery and can be punished with up to 20 years in prison and whipping.

“An investigation is also being carried out under section 489C of the penal code for possessing counterfeit paper money,” he said. – Bernama, December 13, 2022.