The Kuala Lumpur consumer tribunal instructed a mobile telephone trader to return RM5,000 to a consumer, who was forced to pay the sum after he was "detained" by the trader for four hours.

Dipres Nasution Mohd Arifin said he was locked up at Kota Raya Kompleks, Kuala Lumpur, after he refused to purchase four mobile telephones at a final price which was more than 10 times the quoted price.

“After the award was delivered, the complainant, with a Muslim Consumers’ Association of Malaysia (PPIM) representative, went to the shop to make the claim.

“The trader returned the RM5,000 while the complainant returned the four mobile phones,” Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Cooperatives Ministry secretary-general Alias Ahmad said in a statement.

Dipres Nasution reportedly said he was initially quoted RM200 per unit but was later told to pay RM10,000 in total.

Alias said the award was delivered on Tuesday while the complaint was made on Nov 24.

“The ministry denies that no action has been taken on the matter,” Alias said.

In a related matter, Alias said the ministry had seized imitation mobile telephones worth RM2.3 million between 2011 and 2015.

The ministry actively monitors the market for fake goods, and advises consumers to stay vigilant when making purchases, he said.