MUAR: Police have arrested six Bangladeshi nationals for allegedly being involved in illegal money-lending activities in the Muar district and seized RM176,250 from them.
Muar OCPD Asst Comm Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz said the male suspects, aged between 26 and 40, were detained on Wednesday (Nov 6) at 4.30pm.
"They are targeting Bangladeshi workers by charging high interest rates on the money borrowed," he said in a statement on Thursday (Nov 7).
ACP Raiz Mukhliz said that the lenders would hold the borrowers' automated teller machine (ATM) cards until the money borrowed was repaid.
In addition to the RM176,250, police also seized several items from the suspects, including seven mobile phones, sling bags, and 187 ATM cards.
"All suspects have been remanded to assist with the investigation," said ACP Raiz Mukhliz.
The case is being investigated under Section 5(2) of the Moneylenders Act 1951, which provides for a maximum fine of RM1mil or a jail term of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
"We would like to advise the public not to be easily duped by illegal money lenders or dubious loans offered by them," he said.
