Six loan sharks, including married couple, arrested for harassing victims

IPOH: Police have arrested six loan shark syndicate members, including a married couple, for harassment and threats against debtors.

Perak Commercial Crime Investigation Department Supt Hasbullah Abd Rahman said the loan sharks sprayed a victim's house and car with red paint and locked her gate.

"Based on the police report lodged by the victim in May, these suspects also left notes written in red threatening the victim if she did not pay her debts.

"We monitored and investigated the case for nearly two months before we made the arrest at a condominium in Serdang, Selangor on July 16," he told reporters at the state police contingent headquarters in Ipoh Wednesday (July 18).

During the arrest, police seized mobile phones of assorted brands, red and black paint spray bottles, a can of red paint, metal chains, locks, bicycle locks, bank ATM cards, a laptop and documents.

"We believe the syndicate has been quite active in several states, including 15 cases reported in Perak and four in Selangor.

"The suspects, aged between 24 and 34, have been using the same modus operandi since 2018.

"If a victim fails to pay the debt, theses suspects will spray paint the victim's house and vehicle, lock the gates and leave threatening notes written in red with copies of the victim's identity cards," he said.

All suspects have been remanded for three days from July 17. The case is being investigated under section 29(B)(1) of the Moneylenders Act 1951.- Star