JOHOR BARU, May 28 – Two men involved in an illegal money lending syndicate, known locally as Ah Long, have pleaded guilty in three separate Magistrates’ Courts in Johor to charges of vandalism, drug use, and criminal intimidation.
The accused, R. Sahswin, 25, and P. Yugendran, 31, were fined after admitting to spraying paint on houses and vehicles as part of intimidation tactics often linked to illegal loan collection methods.
Before Magistrate A. Shaarmini, both men were fined RM4,500 each, or 12 months in jail if they fail to pay, for vandalising a home fence at Jalan Jenawi 8, Taman Puteri Wangsa on May 1, causing RM35 in damage.
Sahswin also faced additional charges before Magistrate Nabilah Nizam for splashing paint on another home and a Honda City, causing a total of RM385 in damage. He received a further fine of RM1,000.
Meanwhile, Yugendran was fined RM2,200 or 12 months in jail by Magistrate Atifah Hazimah Wahab for another paint attack at Jalan Hang Jebat 4, Taman Skudai Baru, causing RM249.37 in damages.
Both men were charged under Section 427 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.
In a separate case, Sahswin was also charged under Section 507 of the Penal Code for allegedly threatening to burn down a house in Taman Puteri Wangsa on May 9. He was granted RM4,000 bail, and the case is set for mention on June 11.
Additionally, Sahswin and Yugendran were charged under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for self-administering drugs. Sahswin was fined RM2,500, while Yugendran was fined RM1,800. Both face six months in jail if the fines are unpaid and must undergo two years of supervision by the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK).
Both, along with a third suspect, S.K. Kiren, 24, pleaded not guilty to possessing 20.04g of cannabis on May 14 in Taman Skudai Baru. They were charged under Section 6 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and nine strokes of the cane.
All three were granted bail of RM5,000 each with one surety.
Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar confirmed the suspects were arrested on May 14, following investigations linking them to loan-shark enforcement. The syndicate is believed to use intimidation tactics such as property damage, verbal threats, and locking house doors of debtors.
