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Saturday October 2, 2010
Loan sharks operating at criminal court complex
By M. MAGESWARI
[email protected]
KUALA LUMPUR: Loan sharks are “circling” the criminal courts with offers to act as bailors and lending bail money to family members of the accused for easy profit. Court officials around the country have detected the operations of these loan sharks, believed to be part of a syndicate. Sources said two “professional bailors” used to appear in a Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur to post bail for foreigners accused of various offences.
“Sometimes, the foreigners would have given these people money to act as ‘bailors’.” The sources said in some cases, these foreigners absconded and the bailors would then give excuses that they could not trace the accused. “It is a syndicate operation,” said the sources. Some judges, they added, were following the registrar’s advice by not allowing the same person to act as bailor in multiple cases and had even interviewed bailors in open court to ensure they were genuine.
Such activities had caused the Registrar of High Court of Malaya to issue a directive on Aug 25 to all court directors in Malaysia for a notice to be put up, warning the public about the operations of these loan sharks, also known as Ah Long. KL Court director Azizah Mahamud said notices were placed at various locations at the Jalan Duta court complex last week to raise awareness and warn people against having dealings with these “bailors”. “We have instructed all courts nationwide to put up the notice at their respective premises,” she said.
The notice reminded the public that it was an offence to take loans from unlicensed money lenders. The notice also warned the public about the activities of unscrupulous people who claim to be able to settle criminal cases for payment. “The courts have never appointed any agent or individual to settle any cases for us,” it stressed. The notice stated that the public should not be taken in by such offers and encouraged them to report to the police or court officials if they were approached by Ah Long or touts.
