Loan sharking adverts: Four compounded
Published on: Saturday, March 25, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Four people were compounded RM500 each by City Hall for advertising illegal money-lending services during an operation, here, recently. A total of 413 advertisements without permit were also seized during the operation. City Hall Licensing Director Sairullizam Sukor said the operation was conducted under the Advertisement By-Laws 1983 and involved 13 officers from the Licensing Department and 12 City Hall enforcement officers. ADVERTISEMENT The four-hour operation, which began at 7pm, was focused on money loan advertisements glued on trees, lamp posts, traffic lights as well as other unlicensed advertisements offering tree-cutting services, installing grills and air-condition services, among others. A total of 2,493 advertisements without permit were pulled down last year, while 463 such advertisements were removed so far this year. City Hall will track those involved through the phone numbers displayed on the advertisements for action to be taken.The offence carries a compound of up to RM500. Those who fail or refuse to pay the compound will be taken to court and if found guilty can be fined up to RM10,000. ADVERTISEMENT Based on City Hall's inspections, the advertisers would put their nicknames on the illegal money-lending advertisement and use other people's names to register their phone number with telecommunication companies. A total of 43 phone numbers identified on such advertisements will be submitted to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to request termination of service.
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City Hall will also revoke the trading licence especially of printing companies found to have taken printing bookings for the illegal money-lending advertisements. The operation will be conducted daily in all areas because the individuals concerned constantly swap and put up these posters or advertisements during the night. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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City Hall said it will continue to monitor such activities and that action will be taken on those who fail to abide by the law. It also advised people against dealing with loan sharks because without demand for such services, illegal-money lending activities would disappear.