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JOHOR BARU: Police have discovered a major illegal loan syndicate targeting gambling addicts and entrepreneurs whose businesses were rendered vulnerable due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
From the crackdown on loan sharks, police discovered that the union operates not only across the country, including Sabah and Sarawak, but has links across the Causeway.
Johor Police Chief Comm Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said that during the first eight months of this year, the state police had opened 398 investigative documents into Ah Long’s activities. A task force has also been set up to track down and arrest everyone involved in such illegal businesses. .
“Between August 15 and 23, the police arrested 12 suspects in a series of raids here in Batu Pahat, as well as in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor,” Comm Ayob said during a press conference at the state police headquarters. Yesterday.
The detainees are between 23 and 46 years old and are being investigated under the Money Loan Law of 1951, Articles 427 435 and 436 of the Penal Code, as well as the Crime Prevention Law (Poca).
“This union is targeting Malaysians working in Singapore who applied for loans online.
Facing crime: Comm Ayob showing photos of loan sharks during a press conference at the Johor Baru state police headquarters. – THOMAS YONG / The star
“Most of those who borrowed money are addicted to gambling, while others borrowed money for business. When they couldn’t repay their loans, loan sharks harassed them and their families.
“The loan sharks even forced the borrowers to do the dirty work of harassing, like throwing paint and Molotov cocktails at people’s houses.
“If the borrowers do the work assigned to them, then the loan sharks will give them some discounts on their loan amount,” Comm Ayob said.
He added that loan sharks would also record such acts on video before sending them as a warning to delinquent borrowers.
During a raid, he said, the suspects were caught burning mobile phones and SIM cards to prevent police from confiscating them.
Comm Ayob said that during the raids, the police seized 14 laptops, 52 mobile phones, 43 SIM cards, five cars, five external hard drives, four transparent plastic bags filled with red paint, two bottles of red paint, and a central unit. processing.
He urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to investigate mobile phone stores that sell SIM cards in bulk without registering buyers.
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