MANY kinds of business are conducted at night markets and bazaars – from the mundane to the bizarre.
Recently, a viral video showed a person handing out business cards promoting online gambling and illegal loans at a Ramadan bazaar.
Is it true that a couple was arrested for handing out such business cards at a Ramadan bazaar in Ipoh?
VERDICT:
TRUE
Perak police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan confirmed the arrest of a married couple.
However, he added that the man seen in the video distributing the cards is disabled and police are still looking for him.
He said the couple, who were the masterminds behind the scheme, was arrested in Sitiawan on Monday (April 1).
He added that the man is 54 and his wife is 53.
"In the video, traders are seen confronting the man and he was told to leave the bazaar.
"From the information gathered, police managed to trace the couple," he said.
On Sunday (March 31), Comm Mohd Yusri said police were looking for three suspects over the viral video at the Ramadan Bazaar at Stadium here.
Comm Mohd Yusri said police confiscated a mobile phone, a book containing a list of people who had borrowed money and a total of 120 cards with details on money lending and online gambling.
He said that after questioning, the man admitted he was at the bazaar with two others he had hired to hand out the cards.
"The suspect has been conducting the business (illegal money lending and online gambling) since 2022.
"The suspect paid the two men, both of whom are disabled, RM30 on the day of the incident to distribute the cards," he added.
Comm Mohd Yusri said that checks from the notebook with the names of the borrowers revealed that 90% of them were Malays from the Manjung district.
"The suspect said he wanted to expand his 'business' and find new customers.
"He also confessed that he charged high daily interest rates," he added.
The case is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 and Section 5(2) of the Moneylenders Act.
