Five to be charged with allegedly threatening loan shark victims in Johor

JOHOR BARU: Five suspects believed to be involved in a loan shark syndicate will be charged at the courts here on Wednesday (April 24), say police.

Johor police chief Comm M. Kumar said they are among seven people who were arrested between March 28 and April 7 for allegedly being hired to threaten victims of the syndicate.

"The arrests led to the success in solving a total of 24 cases statewide.

"The suspects will be charged at the Johor Baru Sessions and Magistrate’s Courts on Wednesday before heading to courts in other districts to face more charges," he said in a statement on Tuesday (April 23) night.

Comm Kumar said the suspects are being charged under Section 436, Section 435, Section 427 and Section 426 of the Penal Code in Johor Baru.

"One of the suspects are also being charged under Section 39C of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 on the same day," he said.

He said that they will be brought to courts in Kulai, Pontian, Kluang, Batu Pahat, Segamat, Muar and Tangkak to face more charges.

On April 8, Comm Kumar said the police arrested seven individuals for being part of a loan shark syndicate that is believed to be based in a neighbouring country.

He said the suspects, aged between 29 and 46, were in charge of making threats by throwing molotov cocktails or red paint at victims who have fallen for their scams.

“The initial investigation revealed that each individual is being paid RM600 for throwing red paint once and RM1,000 for throwing molotov cocktails once," he said in the press conference on April 8.