Police have arrested six suspects, including two women believed to be hired enforcers for an illegal loan syndicate, in connection with a series of criminal intimidation cases involving paint splashing and petrol bomb attacks across several states.
Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the suspects, aged between 21 and 42, were detained in a series of coordinated raids carried out in the Klang Valley earlier this month.
He said the arrests followed a report lodged by a 52-year-old retiree on April 7, after his home in Taman Mount Austin was splashed with red paint by unknown individuals. Investigators believe the incident was linked to a tenant suspected of taking illegal loans from a foreign-based syndicate.
Acting on intelligence, police from the Johor Bahru Selatan Commercial Crime Investigation Division, with assistance from Kajang district police, tracked down one of the male suspects in Bangi, Selangor on April 9. The suspect allegedly attempted to ram into police officers during arrest before fleeing the scene.
He was eventually detained later that night at around 11.30pm in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
Following his arrest, police raided an apartment unit in Kuala Lumpur, leading to the detention of five additional suspects believed to be part of the same network.
Authorities also seized a pistol with two live rounds, six sheets of paper containing debt demands, and a Honda Jazz believed to have been used in the offences.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the group was paid approximately RM600 per job for paint splashing incidents and around RM1,000 for carrying out petrol bomb attacks.
Police said the syndicate is believed to be responsible for at least 25 cases across Johor, Selangor, Melaka, Perak and Pahang, involving criminal intimidation, vandalism and violence linked to unlicensed money lending activities.
Checks also found that all suspects have prior criminal records related to drug offences, and urine tests returned positive for drugs.
The case is being investigated under Section 5(2) of the Moneylenders Act 1951, Section 427 of the Penal Code, as well as other offences including illegal possession of firearms and drug abuse.
Police are also working with foreign authorities to trace the main mastermind behind the syndicate.
