JOHOR BARU: Four teenagers who allegedly sold fake International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) authorisation letters for interstate travel on social media have been nabbed.

       Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the two boys and two girls, aged between 16 and 19, were arrested during an operation here at about 8pm on Aug 5.

       He said the mastermind was a 21-year-old, who paid the teenagers between RM50 and RM100 in commission for every forged Miti document they sold for RM150 through Facebook, Instagram and WeChat.

       The suspects managed to sell 250 forged documents amounting to a haul of RM37,500, he added.

       “The letters were forged using details from a registered company located in Kempas to hoodwink the authorities,” he told reporters yesterday, adding that the company owner was not aware of the scam.

       Comm Ayob Khan said police did not rule out the possibility of an insider providing details of the company to the syndicate, which was believed to have been active since March.

       He said the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which provides for a jail term of up to 10 years and whipping and fine upon conviction.

       He said police were looking for one Nicholas Chai Jia Han to help in the investigation, adding that his last known address was Jalan Bukit Kontang, Taman Ria in Tangkak. Those with information can call the state police hotline number at 07-2254074.

       Comm Ayob Khan said the suspects have been released on bail pending the investigation.

       Meanwhile, Johor police arrested three men for allegedly running a loan shark syndicate here with loans amounting to RM1.5mil.

       Comm Ayob Khan said the suspects, aged between 27 and 47, were arrested during an operation on Aug 18.

       “The syndicate has been operating since late 2019 and preyed on petty traders by offering loans of between RM1,000 and RM100,000 with monthly interest rates of 8% to 15%.

       “Investigations revealed there were a total of 80 borrowers who were regulars with the syndicate,” he said, adding the police also confiscated three vehicles and 13 ATM cards.

       Police also arrested a 41-year-old man for splashing red paint on four houses in Batu Pahat and Segamat at about 5pm on Aug 17.

       Comm Ayob Khan said the suspect had been paid RM350 to throw paint at each of the homes.