SIBU: Four men working as debt collectors for loan sharks were arrested on Sept 22.
"A crime prevention patrol team had intercepted a suspicious-looking Proton Wira around 8.50pm in Jalan Lada with three local men aged 20 to 40 inside it," said Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri on Thursday (Sept 27).
Speaking at a press conference, the suspects along with two bottles containing a red liquid, a lock chain, three phones and two pieces of paper containing threatening notes in a sling bag were taken to the police station for further investigation.
"The suspects admitted to being employed as debt collectors for an Ah Long named Akmal where they were paid RM300 for each task, which included delivering threatening notes and splashing paint on the homes of debtors, who had failed to repay their loans that were applied through Facebook," he added.
Subsequently, another suspect was also detained.
“With these arrests, the police have resolved at least nine cases involving criminal threats and acts of mischief within the Sibu district.
“Two of them are being investigated under Section 5(2) of the Moneylenders Act 1951 while the remaining cases are being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code,” he said.
Mohd Azman also advised the public not to apply for loans from unlicensed or online moneylenders.
Those with information about criminal activities are advised to contact the nearest police station or the Sibu IPD operations room at 084-364373.
