SERDANG, Jan 11 — Police arrested 16 people aged 16 – 23, including six women, during a raid at a property in Bandar Puteri Puchong, Selangor last Thursday for alleged involvement in loan shark harassment activities.
Serdang district police chief, ACP Razali Abu Samah, said initial investigations reveal that all the suspects were hired by an ah long (loan shark) syndicate to splash paint and harass borrowers.
“The suspects confessed to receiving RM500 per ‘project’,” he said during a press conference at IPD Serdang (police headquarters) today.
During a search of the premises supposedly used for event planning, Police discovered 25 charity organisation receipt books, 200 sheets of paper with names, identification card (IC) and phone numbers, as well as a laptop computer.
Early investigations also revealed that the syndicate has been active for seven months and is not involved in underworld activities.
Razali said all the suspects will be charged at the Petaling Jaya court tomorrow.
He said the arrests come after a 44-year-old man made a report about being harassed last June by several men believed hired by ah long and his home in Puncak Jalil being splashed with paint.
“We’re still hunting for an associate of the suspect(s) who may be linked to this case,” said Razali.
Meanwhile, in another case, three men aged 20 – 30 were arrested at a house in Balakong and Saujana Utama, Selangor for their suspected involvement in robberies around Serdang and Sepang.
Razali said the suspects were arrested on January 1 and that Police seized the motorcycles – two believed stolen and one belonging to a suspect — used to commit the crime.
He said the suspects have been active for 10 months and would wear a black jacket during the crime.
“Ten robbery and snatch theft cases in Serdang and Kajang have been solved with the arrest of the suspects,” he said.
Razali added there is the existence of a prior criminal record and that their 10-day remand will be extended for investigation into another case.
— Bernama
