Penang cops nab two Ah Long for attacks on borrowers

NIBONG TEBAL: Police arrested two Ah Long believed to be intimidating borrowers in an operation in Simpang Ampat and Tasek Mutiara here.

Seberang Prai Selatan (SPS) district police chief Supt Shafee Abdul Samad said the two men, aged 20 and 21, were arrested at a road block during the operation codenamed Ops Vulture, which was held from 3am to 2pm.

“The men were in a Toyota Hilux. Initial investigations revealed they were involved in four cases of splashing paint at borrowers’ homes in order to intimidate them in the SPS area,” he said on Wednesday night.

Supt Shafee said that following the arrest of the duo, police raided their home in Taman Residensi Villa Mutiara, Simpang Ampat, near here, and seized various items believed to be used by the suspects to harass victims.

“Among the items were samurai swords, machetes, iron axes, bolt cutters, hammers, air guns, masks, debt notebooks, a paintball gas tank, paint thinner and cash amounting to RM6,274.

“Police also seized several fake vehicle registration numbers, a Perodua Alza car believed to belong to a borrower, and a Toyota Hilux with a fake registration number,” he added.

Supt Shafee said the two men were believed to be members of an unlicensed moneylending syndicate, and police were also looking for several other accomplices.

He said the two men were believed to be active since early this year, and their role was to find borrowers and intimidate those who failed to pay their debt.

He said they were remanded for investigation under Section 29(B) and 5(2) of the Moneylenders Act 1951, Section 6(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958, and Section 8 of the Firearms Act 1971. — Bernama