Duo detained for allegedly threatening insurance agent over vehicle rental

AMPANG: Two men were detained for allegedly threatening an insurance agent via WhatsApp.

Ampang Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Azam Ismail said the victim claimed that he had contacted a man at about 11.15pm on April 3 over a vehicle rental issue but the latter disconnected the call once he heard the victim's voice.

"The victim then received various WhatsApp messages from an unknown number, which threatened the victim.

"The sender sent images of fire, a machete and a pistol as well as claiming he would damage the victim's car.

"The victim suspected the person whom he had contacted or another person were planning to hurt him, thus he lodged a police report," he said in a statement on Monday (April 22).

An investigation led the police to arrest two men aged 29 and 30, in Ara Damansara at about 2.15pm on April 20, ACP Mohd Azam said.

"We seized two mobile phones and seven documents to assist with the investigation," he said.

Police uncovered that the incident was caused by the rental of the victim's vehicle, he said.

"The suspect had rented the victim's vehicle but when it was time for him to return it, the suspect instead asked for payment," he said.

Both suspects tested negative for drugs, ACP Mohd Azam said.

"One of the suspects had three prior criminal records while the other had none.

"They have been remanded until Wednesday (April 24)," he said.

The case is classified under Section 385 of the Penal Code for intimidating a person for the purpose of extortion and Section 507 of the same code for anonymously threatening a person, he said.

"The Commercial Crime Investigation Department is also investigating the alleged crime under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating," he said.