Johor police identify loan sharks

JOHOR BARU: The days of loan sharks in Johor are numbered as the police have identified several masterminds.
State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said the police had declared an all-out war against loan sharks and would not be contented in going after the “small” players.
“We have identified several masterminds behind these Ah Long syndicates. We will pick them up as soon as possible,” he told a press conference after a joint operation between the police and Johor Baru City Council to remove Ah Long posters yesterday.
Illegal advertising: (From left) Johor CID chief Senior Asst Comm II Datuk Amer Awal, DCP Mohd Mokhtar, Johor Baru City Council Mayor Datuk Mohd Naim Nasir and acting state commercial crime chief Supt Wong Chong Fooi looking at the seized loan shark posters Wednesday.
DCP Mohd Mokhtar said police had arrested a 28-year-old man under the Emergency Ordinance for involvement in loan shark activities.
“The man, the head of a syndicate, had been active in Tangkak and Muar. We obtained an order to restrict him to Temelong in Hulu Terengganu for two years from May 26,” he said.
He said Johor police were investigating 33 cases involving loan sharks reported since January.
DCP Mohd Mokhtar also an­­nounced that five snatch thieves, including three Indone­sians, were detained separately on May 30 and May 31.
The five, in their 20s, are said to be involved in several snatch theft cases in Danga Bay and its surrounding areas.
“We are going all out to stop the snatch theft menace. They are a menace and we will not rest until they are captured,” he said.
DCP Mohd Mokhtar also urged anyone with information to contact the police hotline at 07-221 2999 or the nearest police station.

SUMBER : THE STAR