JOHOR POLICE CRACK 34 MISCHIEF CASES AFTER NABBING LOAN SHARK SYNDICATE MEMBERS

JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- Johor police solved 34 cases of mischief linked to an unlicensed moneylending syndicate with the arrest of three individuals in an operation carried out in Johor Bahru and Kluang on Sept 4 and 7.

State police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the suspects, two men and a woman aged between 21 and 30, were arrested by a team from Johor Bahru Selatan district police headquarters (IPD) Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) and the Kulai IPD.

Preliminary investigations revealed that all three suspects were paid RM1,000 for each act of arson and RM550 for splashing paint or pasting threat notices at victims’ homes.

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“With their arrest, we have solved 34 cases of mischief, 18 in Johor Bahru, six in Kulai, three in Kluang, two each in Pontian, Batu Pahat and Mersing, and one in Kota Tinggi, all involving the same modus operandi,” he said in a statement today.

Police also seized various items believed to have been used in criminal activities, including bottles containing petrol, a car, a motorcycle and several mobile phones.

Ab Rahaman said the syndicate had been active since February, promoting loan advertisements on social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok.

The group mainly targeted Malaysians working in Singapore, with monetary transactions made through bank accounts registered in the republic.

He said the loans were credited directly into borrowers’ accounts even before the terms and conditions were agreed upon.

“Victims were then forced to repay the loans at exorbitant interest rates ranging from 20 to 50 per cent, and were threatened, had paint splashed on their homes, or were subjected to arson if they failed to make payments,” he said.

The case is being investigated under Sections 436, 435, 427, 507, and 202 of the Penal Code.

-- BERNAMA