Miri police nab four men linked to online loan sharks after red-paint attacks at borrowers’ homes

Miri police arrested four men in connection with vandalism cases linked to illegal online moneylending activities in October 2026. — Unsplash pic

First Published: Saturday, 31 Oct 2026 1:51 PM MYT

MIRI, Oct 31 — Four men have been arrested by Miri police in connection with paint-splashing vandalism cases linked to illegal online moneylending activities in the division.

Miri District Police Chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah said in a statement late Friday that the suspects were detained in four separate operations conducted in Kampung Pujut Tanjong Batu on October 23 and 26.

He said the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Miri District Police Headquarters (IPD Miri) initially received a police report at 3.11pm on October 22 from a 54-year-old local man regarding an incident in which red paint was splashed on the front gate and porch floor of his house in Miri.

According to the complainant, the act was believed to be connected to demands for repayment of an online loan allegedly taken by his son.

The complainant discovered the incident around 10pm on October 21, after reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage at his residence in Jalan Acorus 7 here.

“The footage showed two unidentified men arriving at the house before one of them splashed red paint on the front gate and the floor at the front of the house.

“Prior to the incident, the complainant had received messages from an individual using the name ‘Kelvin’, demanding repayment of an online loan allegedly taken by his son. The messages also contained threats should the payment not be made,” said Mohd Farhan.

Based on the complainant’s information, his son had previously borrowed money online from an individual believed to be involved in unlicensed moneylending activities. Although the earlier debt was said to have been settled, his son later informed him that he had taken another RM200 loan from a different online lender.

“Acting on intelligence and the findings of investigations, a team of CID officers from IPD Miri arrested four local men aged between 25 and 32.

“Police investigations found that all four suspects were involved in the reported paint-splashing vandalism cases, enabling police to solve two cases reported on October 20 and October 22,” he said.

Following the arrests, police seized several items from the suspects, including mobile phones, clothing, slippers, two helmets allegedly worn during the incidents and two motorcycles believed to have been used in the incidents.

Both cases are being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of one to five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, upon conviction.

Mohd Farhan said police take seriously any acts of intimidation, criminal mischief and threats that could jeopardise public safety and order.

He advised the public not to entertain threats or suspicious demands related to online loans and to lodge a police report immediately if they became victims or had information regarding such activities. — The Borneo Post

* Editor’s note: The initials IPD stands for Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah in Malay.