Penang cops nab four over alleged robbery, assault

GEORGE TOWN: Four men, believed to be involved in illegal moneylending activities, were nabbed by police after allegedly robbing a woman who failed to pay back the RM10,000 loan she took from one of the suspects.

Penang police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the 47-year-old victim was not only robbed but also hit by the suspects before police rescued her from a budget hotel in Kampung Malabar here on Wednesday (Jan 5).

"Acting on information, police detained the suspects, aged between 25 and 30 years old, at Jalan Perak on Friday (Jan 7) and confiscated several items that were snatched from the victim," he said during a press conference on Tuesday (Jan 11).

Comm Mohd Shuhaily said in the 5.30pm incident that occurred on Monday (Jan 3), the suspects took the victim's car key and two of her ATM cards.

The victim suffered minor injuries to her head.

He said the victim was rescued by a team of police at about 10.30pm on Wednesday (Jan 5) and investigations found that the reason for the incident was because the victim failed to pay back RM10,000 she borrowed from one of the suspects.

He said the suspects have no prior criminal record and they tested negative for drugs.

The case is being investigated under Section 395 of the Penal Code for gang robbery.

Comm Mohd Shuhaily said the suspects were also connected to an arson case related to a report on May 16 last year.

He said based on the report, a man alleged that a fire incident occurred in front of his house at Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim in Jelutong and the man believed it to be connected with an illegal moneylender when one of his relatives took loans from the suspects.

The case is being investigated under Section 435 of the Penal Code for mischief by fire.