Latest news with #loanShark
Malay Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Loan sharks charged in Johor for harassment, vandalism, and drug offences
Loan shark enforcers charged in Johor for harassment, vandalism, and drug offences JOHOR BARU, May 28 — Two men linked to an illegal money lending syndicate, commonly referred to as Ah Long, pleaded guilty in three separate Magistrates' Courts here today to multiple charges, including vandalism and drug-related offences. The accused, R. Sahswin, 25, and P. Yugendran, 31, admitted to charges of vandalising homes and vehicles by spraying paint. Both were sentenced to fines after their pleas were recorded. Before Magistrate A. Shaarmini, the duo was fined RM4,500 each or ordered to serve 12 months in prison if they fail to pay. According to the charge sheet, Sahswin and Yugendran had sprayed paint on a house fence in Jalan Jenawi 8, Taman Puteri Wangsa, causing losses worth over RM35. The offence occurred at 10.57pm on May 1. Sahswin faced additional charges before Magistrate Nabilah Nizam, including splashing paint on a house, causing RM35 in damages, and on a Honda City, with repairs estimated at RM350. These acts occurred at Jalan Lading 11, Taman Puteri Wangsa at 10.40pm on May 1, and at another house in Jalan Tun Abdul Razak at 12.20pm on April 27. He was fined RM1,000 for these offences. Meanwhile, Yugendran was fined RM2,200 or ordered to serve 12 months in prison by Magistrate Atifah Hazimah Wahab for splashing red paint on a house fence at Jalan Hang Jebat 4, Taman Skudai Baru. The act caused damages amounting to RM249.37 and was committed at 3.12pm on April 28. Both were charged under Section 427 of the Penal Code for mischief, which provides for up to five years' imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction. Separately, Sahswin was also charged with criminal intimidation for allegedly threatening to burn down a house at Jalan Jenawi 8, Taman Puteri Wangsa, on May 9 at 3.20pm. He was charged under Section 507 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment, a fine, or both. The court granted Sahswin bail of RM4,000 for this case and set June 11 for mention and submission of documents. In addition, Sahswin and Yugendran faced charges for self-administering dangerous drugs under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. Sahswin was fined RM2,500 or six months' imprisonment, while Yugendran was fined RM1,800 or six months' imprisonment. Both offences occurred at the Johor Baru North police headquarters on May 15. The court also ordered both men to undergo two years of supervision by the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK). The pair, along with a third accused, S.K. Kiren, 24, pleaded not guilty to a charge of possessing 20.04 grammes of cannabis. The offence allegedly took place at Jalan Inang 7, Taman Skudai Baru, on May 14 at 11.40pm. They were charged under Section 6 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment and up to nine strokes of the cane upon conviction. All three were granted bail of RM5,000 each with one surety. Deputy public prosecutors Nor Afiqah Musa and Nik Noratini Nik Azman prosecuted, while lawyer V. Pushparajan represented the accused. Yesterday, Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar revealed that the suspects were arrested on May 14 for their alleged involvement in a loan-sharking syndicate. The group is suspected of receiving payment to intimidate victims, vandalise properties, and lock house doors of individuals who failed to repay loans. JOHOR BARU, May 28 — Two men linked to an illegal money lending syndicate, commonly referred to as Ah Long, pleaded guilty in three separate Magistrates' Courts here today to multiple charges, including vandalism and drug-related offences. The accused, R. Sahswin, 25, and P. Yugendran, 31, admitted to charges of vandalising homes and vehicles by spraying paint. Both were sentenced to fines after their pleas were recorded. Before Magistrate A. Shaarmini, the duo was fined RM4,500 each or ordered to serve 12 months in prison if they fail to pay. According to the charge sheet, Sahswin and Yugendran had sprayed paint on a house fence in Jalan Jenawi 8, Taman Puteri Wangsa, causing losses worth over RM35. The offence occurred at 10.57pm on May 1. Sahswin faced additional charges before Magistrate Nabilah Nizam, including splashing paint on a house, causing RM35 in damages, and on a Honda City, with repairs estimated at RM350. These acts occurred at Jalan Lading 11, Taman Puteri Wangsa at 10.40pm on May 1, and at another house in Jalan Tun Abdul Razak at 12.20pm on April 27. He was fined RM1,000 for these offences. Meanwhile, Yugendran was fined RM2,200 or ordered to serve 12 months in prison by Magistrate Atifah Hazimah Wahab for splashing red paint on a house fence at Jalan Hang Jebat 4, Taman Skudai Baru. The act caused damages amounting to RM249.37 and was committed at 3.12pm on April 28. Both were charged under Section 427 of the Penal Code for mischief, which provides for up to five years' imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction. Separately, Sahswin was also charged with criminal intimidation for allegedly threatening to burn down a house at Jalan Jenawi 8, Taman Puteri Wangsa, on May 9 at 3.20pm. He was charged under Section 507 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment, a fine, or both. The court granted Sahswin bail of RM4,000 for this case and set June 11 for mention and submission of documents. In addition, Sahswin and Yugendran faced charges for self-administering dangerous drugs under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. Sahswin was fined RM2,500 or six months' imprisonment, while Yugendran was fined RM1,800 or six months' imprisonment. Both offences occurred at the Johor Baru North police headquarters on May 15. The court also ordered both men to undergo two years of supervision by the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK). The pair, along with a third accused, S.K. Kiren, 24, pleaded not guilty to a charge of possessing 20.04 grammes of cannabis. The offence allegedly took place at Jalan Inang 7, Taman Skudai Baru, on May 14 at 11.40pm. They were charged under Section 6 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment and up to nine strokes of the cane upon conviction. All three were granted bail of RM5,000 each with one surety. Deputy public prosecutors Nor Afiqah Musa and Nik Noratini Nik Azman prosecuted, while lawyer V. Pushparajan represented the accused. Yesterday, Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar revealed that the suspects were arrested on May 14 for their alleged involvement in a loan-sharking syndicate. The group is suspected of receiving payment to intimidate victims, vandalise properties, and lock house doors of individuals who failed to repay loans.
South China Morning Post
16-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong police smash loan shark syndicate, arresting 24 including 12-year-old
Hong Kong police have broken up a loan shark syndicate that charged 5,000 borrowers annual interest rates of up to 100 per cent or more, with the operation leading to the arrest of 24 people as young as 12-year-old. The force said the syndicate targeted potential customers randomly through cold calls and text messages, enticing them with discounted loan rates and no vetting requirements for lending. The loan sharks even claimed they were representatives of licensed money lenders. 'Most residents swayed into borrowing money are attracted by the so-called discounted loan rates. But in reality, the syndicate would collect one third of the loaned amount as an administrative fee,' Senior Inspector Poon Sung-lai said. 'On the surface, although the annual percentage rate is lower than the legal limit of 48 per cent, but the actual annual percentage rate being charged can be as much as 100 per cent or even higher.' Poon noted that the syndicate would also charge debtors a penalty amounting to 10 per cent of the amount they loaned if they could not pay their instalments in time, with many victims failing to return the money owed due to soaring debts. The syndicate would then pursue debtors with phone calls and text messages, resorting to threats such as pouring red paint on their doorsteps. Police said that some members of the syndicate's debt collection team were as young as 12 years old. According to the force, the gang had operated for about 10 months using a unit in a Tsuen Wan industrial building as its base of operations, where they coordinated their borrowing, debt collection and money laundering.
Free Malaysia Today
12-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Penang cops bust loan shark syndicate, nab 4
Penang police chief Hamzah Ahmad said several items were seized, including a Toyota Vios, five mobile phones, a can of red paint and a bag of paint thinner. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Penang police have busted a loan shark syndicate based in the state, having arrested four local men who are believed to be running unlicensed money lending schemes. State police chief Hamzah Ahmad said the syndicate is also suspected of splashing red paint on several houses. He said the four suspects, aged between 34 and 42, were arrested yesterday. Hamzah said police also seized several items, including a Toyota Vios, five mobile phones, a can of red paint, a bag of paint thinner, and several notes with threatening messages written on them. He said interrogation of the suspects found they were behind 33 paint-splashing incidents across Penang, Perak and Kedah. 'Inspection of the seized phones also found 33 addresses of houses splashed with red paint, believed to have been committed by the suspects. 'The case is being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code (for mischief) and the suspects can be jailed between one and five years, fined or both, if convicted,' he said.
Malay Mail
08-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Johor cops bust loan shark gang targeting Malaysians in Singapore, used meth-fuelled runners to splash paint, lock homes over unpaid loans
KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — A loan shark syndicate targeting Malaysians working in Singapore has been dismantled following the arrest of four individuals in raids around the city. Johor police chief Datuk M Kumar said the suspects, three local men aged between 30 and 34, and a 27-year-old woman, were detained by the Johor Baru Selatan district police's D7 Criminal Investigation Division on April 17, according to a report published in Buletin TV3 today. 'Initial investigations revealed the group was paid between RM100 and RM350 to commit acts of mischief such as splashing paint, locking victims' homes, and issuing threats to those who failed to repay their loans. 'Items seized during the raids included a car, four mobile phones, a can of paint, a small knife, house keys with keychains, victim information sheets, and materials used for writing threat notes,' he said in a statement today. Kumar added that all suspects tested positive for methamphetamine. He said the syndicate lured Malaysians working in Singapore by offering loans via social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok. 'The loans were transferred directly into borrowers' bank accounts without any formal agreements, and interest rates ranged between 20 and 50 per cent, with transactions conducted through Singapore-registered accounts,' he said. Kumar said police believe nine cases have been solved following the arrests — six in Johor including Johor Baru Selatan, Johor Baru Utara, Kluang, and Seri Alam, and three in Pahang. 'The case is being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code (for mischief), Section 29B of the Moneylenders Act 1951 (for harassment of borrowers), and Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (for drug use). 'The suspects are scheduled to be charged at the Batu Pahat Magistrates' Court today,' he added.
