21-05-2025
Loan shark gang robs and assaults man, leaving him naked in forested area
KUALA TERENGGANU: A group of loan shark syndicate members robbed and assaulted a man, stripped him naked, and left him in a wooded area after he contacted them in an attempt to secure a loan, police said.
Terengganu police chief Datuk Mohd Khairi Khairuddin said the 24-year-old victim filed a report at the Kuala Terengganu district police headquarters yesterday, detailing the incident.
According to the statement, the victim contacted a member of the syndicate via WhatsApp to apply for a loan.
However, he was lured into a car, beaten, stripped of his clothing and left naked in the bushes near Bukit Khor, Marang.
"The suspects also took the victim's personal belongings, including his mobile phone, wallet, and identification card," Mohd Khairi said in a statement today.
Following the report, the Commercial Crime Investigation Department immediately launched a special operation codenamed Op Vulture, which resulted in the arrest of five men aged between 16 and 39.
Mohd Khairi said the suspects later admitted to being involved in illegal moneylending activities around Kuala Terengganu since March.
Items seized during the operation included two Proton Saga cars, five mobile phones, and the victim's clothes, which were recovered based on information provided by the suspects.
Background checks revealed three of the five suspects had previously committed crimes.
Mohd Khairi said police have obtained a four-day remand order for all suspects to assist in the investigation.
