Bentley among three vehicles allegedly set ablaze to claim insurance to pay loan shark debts

MELAKA: Two men decided to set fire to their own three cars, including a luxury car, in a bid to collect insurance payments to settle their debts to loan sharks.

The scam was discovered when police found discrepancies in the details of their police reports.

Melaka police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Wira Abdul Majid Mohd Ali said the two men, both aged 36, were picked up a day after the reports were lodged on Sept 13.

He added that the two, a contractor and a salesman, claimed that they were in dire financial constraints and had no choice but to set their three cars, including a luxury Bentley Continental GT, on fire in order to claim insurance payments.

All three cars, including the Bentley owned by the contractor, were destroyed in the incident at Taman Datuk Tamby Chik Karim at 1.40pm on Sept 13.

"They hoped to receive insurance compensation totalling RM250,000 to settle their debts of RM500,000 owed to the illegal moneylenders," he said on Tuesday (Sept 21).

He said the other two cars were owned by the salesman.

DCP Abdul Majid said both men have been remanded until Sept 27 under Section 435 of the Penal Code for mischief by fire or any explosive substance.

He added that both men had previous criminal records.