An errand woman for the loan sharks in Kluang, Johor, is facing a jail term of up to 36 years after being charged with 5 counts of arson and criminal intimidation at the Magistrate’s Court today (22 September).
The 46-year-old woman previously set the wrong house on fire, affecting other houses in the same row. Fortunately, everyone made it out alive.
A loan shark’s errand woman may face up to 36 years in jail after setting the wrong house on fire
The female defendant faces three charges, including one framed under Section 435 of the Penal Code (arson), which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and a fine.
She’s also facing a charge under Section 436 of the Penal Code (intentional setting fire to a house), which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine.
Meanwhile, the other charge is framed under Section 506 of the Penal Code (criminal intimidation), which carries a maximum sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, if found guilty.
The woman was allegedly paid RM1,300 for each house she set fire to
The errand woman set fire to a house on Jalan Permai in Taman Sri Permai, Kluang, at around 5:30 AM on 5 September. It is suspected that the target was the son of the previous owner of the house.
Police investigations revealed that the defendant had only been active since early September this year and was suspected of being hired to commit arson on multiple occasions, receiving a reward of approximately RM1,300 for each operation.
Her modus operandi includes using petrol bombs and leaving threatening notes against those who failed to pay their debts on time, as reported by China Press.
In June, a few families in Penang also suffered similar consequences after loan sharks wrongly set their houses on fire.
