‘Ah Long’ business busted with teen’s arrest

ILLEGAL: 18-year-old beat red light in a car advertising ‘moneylending service’

THE arrest of an 18-year-old teenager for beating a red light led police to uncover an “Ah Long” activity with the seizure of 339,000 stickers and cards, as well as 9,217 banners and bunting for illegal moneylending activities from a house here on Thursday.

The teenager was driving a car that advertised an illegal moneylending “service” when he committed the offence.

Johor Police Chief Datuk Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said police also seized three posters with threats printed on them, seven books for recording debts, as well as chains, padlocks and other paraphernalia used in illegal moneylending activities.

He said police officers stopped the silver sedan driven by the teenager when he failed to stop at a red traffic light at Jalan Dato Onn Utama, Bandar Dato Onn, here, at 6.45am on Thursday.

Police gave chase and stopped the teen when they saw the words “Licenced Loan: Amount, Time and Contact Number That Can Be Contacted” written on the bonnet of the vehicle. The arrest led to the recovery of the items at a house in the same area.

“Checks led to the seizure of 339,000 cards and stickers for illegal moneylending that had two phone numbers written on them, 9,217 banners and bunting for illegal moneylending with six phone numbers written on them, 12 padlocks, 13 steel chains, three posters written with threats, seven moneylenders record books, and four photocopies of borrowers’ identification cards.

“Police arrested the suspect (the teenager) for operating an unlicenced moneylending business.

“He could be charged under Section 5(2) of the Money Lending Act 1951, which carries a fine of between RM250,000 and RM1,000,000, or maximum five years’ jail, or both,” said Najmuddin yesterday, adding that those convicted for a repeat offence would be subject to caning.

He advised the public to obtain loans from legitimate financial institutions and not borrow from Ah Long, either by using their own name or the names of others.