SHAH ALAM: Selangor police have arrested 18 suspects, 12 of them women, on suspicion of running an unlicensed moneylending syndicate in a raid in Kajang on Thursday (March 10).

       Selangor Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Asst Comm Azman Ali said the suspects, all locals aged between 18 and 52, were arrested at 10.20am in a raid on a premises in Jalan Pasir Emas, Sungai Chua.

       He said the raid was conducted following a tip-off, and the syndicate was believed to have been operating for about six months.

       "Following inspection, we also seized several items and documents including computers, files containing borrowers' information, ATM cards of various banks and cash totalling RM21,598,” he said in a statement.

       ACP Azman said investigations would be conducted under Section 5 (2) of the Moneylenders Act 1951 where those convicted face a fine of up to RM1mil or imprisonment for up to five years, or both. – Bernama