MELAKA: Police here have arrested a couple for allegedly using fake money to buy a pair of Persian cats.

       Alor Gajah OCPD Supt Arshad Abu said the two were arrested at their home in Simpang Pulai, Ipoh after buying the two cats from a 56-year-old retired teacher on Dec 11 at the Ayer Keroh toll plaza.

       "The retired teacher from Bukit Beruang here decided to lodge a police report at the Alor Gajah police station as the sale took place at a toll plaza which comes under our jurisdiction,” he said on Thursday (Dec 16).

       Supt Arshad said that the teacher was offered RM2,600 for his pet cats and the couple promised to pay him in cash.

       He felt something amiss when the money paid was not accepted by a pet trader in Skudai, Johor on Dec 12.

       He added that the victim then lodged a police report and handed over the counterfeit notes to the investigation team.

       They were able to trace the 22-year-old man and 24-year-old woman to a home in Kampung Kepayang, Simpang Pulai, Ipoh.

       “They were staying together and we are still in the midst of ascertaining the relationship between the two. Both of them tested positive for drugs during screening," said Supt Arshad.

       He added that the two had previous criminal records for drug offences, and said that the preliminary investigation showed the couple had been using fake notes for shopping and other transactions.

       Supt Arshad said the two were remanded until Dec 20 to assist in the investigation under Section 489B of the Penal Code for possessing fake notes and tools for forging money, which is punishable by a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine, upon conviction.

       He said police also confiscated the two cats, a car and a printing machine from the couple.

       “My men are still investigating whether the couple had printed the fake money or a syndicate was behind it, and we thank the seller of the cats for working closely with us," said Comm Arshad.