Couple, Allegedly Hired By Loan Shark, Nabbed For Deadly Segamat Blaze

JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- A couple, believed to have been hired by a Singapore-based loan shark, were arrested for a house fire that killed a 72-year-old woman in Kampung Bukit Siput, Segamat on July 25.

Johor police chief, Commissioner Ab Rahaman Arsad, said the Segamat District Police Headquarters operations centre received an emergency call regarding a fire involving five houses at about 4.30 am.

"Investigations by the police and the Johor Fire and Rescue Department found elements of arson.

"Johor police formed a special task force for the investigation and arrested the couple, a 21-year-old man and his 19-year-old girlfriend, in Subang Jaya, Selangor, a week after the incident.

"Interrogation of both suspects revealed that an Ah Long (loan shark) syndicate in Singapore hired them to carry out criminal intimidation by setting fire to the house of a borrower who had failed to repay a loan," he said in a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters here today.

Ab Rahaman said investigations found that the couple were suspected of actively committing mischiefs in Johor and Selangor since July, receiving RM1,000 for each job.

"At the time of the incident, the elderly woman was alone. She had never received any threat, and it is believed that the suspected loan was taken out by a family member of the victim," he said.

He said four investigation papers had been referred to the Johor State Legal Advisor's office and received instructions for prosecution.

Ab Rahaman added that the male suspect will be charged at the Segamat Magistrate's Court tomorrow with nine charges under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code for causing death without intent, Section 436 for arson, and Section 507 for criminal intimidation.

He said the man's girlfriend was released on police bail and will serve as a prosecution witness.

-- BERNAMA