Semenyih Man Accused of Repeating Dine-and-Dash Trick to Avoid Paying RM242 Restaurant Bill

A man in Semenyih landed himself in hot water after allegedly attempting to leave a restaurant without paying for a sizeable meal and drinks.

The incident took place on the evening of 9 July, as shared in a Facebook post. The customer arrived alone, placed a generous order, and tucked into dishes such as a curry seafood pot (RM38), Kung Pao-style stir-fried frog (RM42), Kam Heong mud crab (RM88), a bowl of rice (RM1.80), and three bottles of Heineken (RM72), racking up a total bill of RM241.80.

However, when it was time to settle the bill, the man reportedly tried to make a quiet exit. He was quickly stopped by alert staff members, who then called the police.

According to a report by Sin Chew Daily, this wasn’t his first time pulling such a stunt. The restaurant owner claimed that the man had used a similar trick on several occasions. His routine was allegedly to order food, pretend to wait for a friend, and then leave without paying once he had eaten.

When the police arrived, they managed to get in touch with his ex-wife, who revealed that he had long cut off contact with his family. To resolve the matter, the man called a friend from the police station who agreed to pay the outstanding bill. With the amount settled, no further action was taken.

While no formal charges were filed, the restaurant hopes that this incident will serve as a reminder to others not to take advantage of small businesses.