GEORGE TOWN: Police have arrested four loan sharks or 'Ah Longs' who torched houses in six states.
The four men, aged 23 to 28, were arrested in separate raids in Penang, Perak, and Kedah on Thursday.
Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said the suspects are believed to be involved in unlicensed money-lending activities.
Aside from torching residential properties in Penang, Perak, Kedah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Melaka, the men are also responsible for splashing paint on 27 properties.
Hamzah said the four men have admitted to being involved in the crimes.
"Further checks on the mobile phone seized during the arrests also led to the recovery of 25 videos of arson being committed at various locations," he said in a statement today.
Hamzah said police have seized a Honda City, four mobile phones, a set of Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) documents, a chequebook and a notebook with a list of borrowers' names.
The case is being probed under Sections 427, 435 and 436 of the Penal Code for mischief and mischief by fire, as well as Section 29AA of the Moneylenders Act for assisting in unlicensed money lending.