98 people under investigation for unlicensed moneylending activities: Police

Ninety-eight individuals are being investigated for their suspected involvement in unlicensed moneylending activities, the police said on Monday (Sep 7).

The suspects, aged between 17 and 78, were caught during a seven-day island-wide operation between Aug 25 and 31.

The operation was conducted by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the seven police land divisions.

Among those being probed, preliminary investigations suggest that one had operated as an unlicensed moneylender, while seven others allegedly harassed debtors at their residences.

There were 46 individuals who were also believed to be runners, carrying out ATM transfers.

Additionally, 41 individuals were also suspected to have provided their ATM cards, personal identification numbers and internet banking tokens to unlicensed moneylenders, even opening bank accounts on unlicensed moneylenders' behalf.

The remaining three, comprising a woman and two men aged between 26 and 48, are being investigated for their suspected involvement in cross-border unlicensed moneylending activities.

"(We) acted on information received from the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP)," said the police.

"They are believed to have provided their bank accounts and mobile numbers to unlicensed moneylenders and are linked to unlicensed moneylending reports in both Malaysia and Singapore."

Any individual whose phone line, bank account, ATM card or internet banking token is used to facilitate unlicensed moneylending is presumed to have assisted in carrying out the unlicensed moneylending, the police warned.

If found guilty, first-time offenders may be jailed for up to four years, fined between $30,000 and $300,000 and caned up to six times.

They may also be barred from using ATM and internet banking facilities for a year.

For acting on behalf of an unlicensed moneylender to commit or attempt harassment they can be jailed for up to five years, fined between $5,000 and $50,000, and caned between three and six times.

Foreigners who borrow or aid in unlicensed moneylending will also have their student or work passes cancelled and face deportation.

The police reiterated that unlicensed moneylenders will not hesitate to carry out persistent and dangerous harassment acts on the borrowers and their families, including setting fires and splashing paint at residences.

"Unlicensed moneylending syndicates depend on networks of runners, bank account holders and others who facilitate the misuse of local SIM cards," senior assistant commissioner of police Julius Lim said.

khooyihang@asiaone.com

警方周一（9月7日）表示，正在对98名涉嫌参与无牌放贷活动的个人进行调查。

这些嫌疑人年龄介于 17 岁至 78 岁之间，在 8 月 25 日至 31 日为期七天的全岛行动中被抓获。

此次行动由刑事调查局（CID）和七个陆路警察分局的警员执行。

在接受调查的人员中，初步调查显示，一人曾从事无证放贷活动，另有七人涉嫌在债务人住所骚扰债务人。

还有 46 人被认为是跑腿人员，他们负责进行 ATM 转账。

此外，还有 41 人涉嫌向无牌放贷者提供他们的 ATM 卡、个人识别码和网上银行令牌，甚至代表无牌放贷者开设银行账户。

其余三人，包括一名女性和两名年龄在 26 岁至 48 岁之间的男性，因涉嫌参与跨境无牌放贷活动而正在接受调查。

警方表示：“我们是根据马来西亚皇家警察（RMP）提供的信息采取的行动。”

“据信他们向无牌放贷者提供了自己的银行账户和手机号码，并且与马来西亚和新加坡的无牌放贷举报有关。”

警方警告说，任何利用电话线、银行账户、ATM卡或网上银行令牌进行非法放贷的个人，都将被推定为协助进行非法放贷活动。

如果被判有罪，初犯者可能被判处最高四年监禁，罚款 3 万至 30 万美元，并处以最高六次鞭刑。

他们还可能被禁止使用自动取款机和网上银行服务一年。

代表无牌放贷者实施或企图实施骚扰行为的人，可被判处最高五年监禁，罚款 5,000 至 50,000 美元，并处以三至六次鞭刑。

外国人如果借款或协助进行无牌放贷，其学生证或工作证将被取消，并面临遣返。

警方重申，无证放贷者会毫不犹豫地对借款人及其家人实施持续且危险的骚扰行为，包括纵火和在住宅泼油漆。

“无牌放贷集团依靠跑腿人员、银行账户持有人和其他人员组成的网络来协助滥用本地SIM卡，”高级助理警务处长林俊杰说。

khooyihang@asiaone.com