Couple hired by loan shark nabbed over fatal blaze
The fire killed a 72-year-old woman in Kampung Bukit Siput, Segamat, on July 25.
State police chief Comm Ab Rahaman Arsad said police received an emergency call regarding a fire involving five houses at about 4.30am.
'Investigations by the police and the Fire Department found elements of arson.
'We then formed a special task force and nabbed a couple, a 21-year-old and his 19-year-old girlfriend in Subang Jaya, Selangor, a week after the incident.
'During the interrogation it was revealed that a loan shark syndicate in Singapore hired them to carry out criminal intimidation by setting fire to the house of a borrower who had failed to repay a loan,' he told a press conference yesterday, Bernama reported.
Comm Ab Rahaman said investigations found that the couple were suspected of actively committing mischief in Johor and Selangor since July, receiving RM1,000 for each job.
'At the time of the incident, the woman was alone.
'She had never received any threat. It is believed that the loan was taken out by a family member.'
Comm Ab Rahaman said four investigation papers had been referred to the state legal advisor's office with instructions for prosecution.
The male suspect will be charged at the Segamat Magistrate's Court today with nine charges under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code for causing death without intent, Section 436 for arson and Section 507 for criminal intimidation.
'His girlfriend has been released on police bail and will serve as a prosecution witness,' he said.
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