Cops to track down ‘Ah Long’ by contact numbers in ads
IPOH: Perak police are tracking down members of unlicensed money lending syndicate, or known as 'Ah Long', through the contact numbers printed in their advertisements.
Perak Commercial Crimes Investigation Department chief Supt Maszely Minhad said all contact numbers printed in the advertisements, including flyers, posters, banners and business cards, would be screened to identify the mastermind of the syndicate.
"Then, we will make some arrests, and if we have strong and sufficient evidence, we will take them to court. This is the first time we will be carrying out the crime prevention operation to combat Along, dubbed 'Ops Voucer', with the cooperation of the local authorities," he told reporters here Monday.
He said the biggest restraint for the police to take the syndicate members to court was the lack of cooperation from the public, especially from those who had fallen victims to the syndicate.
"When the victims are being disturbed or threatened by the syndicate, they will seek help from the police and lodge a report, but when we are half way through the investigation, they refuse to give their cooperation," he said.
Maszely said the operation to combat the unlicensed money lending syndicate was launched in September and actions, including arrests, had been taken on 88 cases in Perak, so far.
In Monday's operation, 1,500 advertisements put up by the syndicate around Ipoh, Batu Gajah, Hilir Perak and Manjung, were taken down.
He said this was aimed at crippling the syndicate's marketing strategy because without the advertisements, it would be difficult for the syndicate to get customers. - Bernama
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