4 arrested for attempting to extort RM50,000 from contractor

KUALA LUMPUR: Four men have been arrested for allegedly extorting RM50,000 from a contractor, failing which they threatened to burn down his construction site.
Sentul district police chief ACP R. Munusamy said in the incident on Tuesday, the four suspects threatened the 45-year-old contractor who was on duty at a construction site in Taman Pelangi, here.
"The suspects told him if he failed to pay an RM50,000 protection fee, he can't continue his construction.
"The group also threatened that they would burn down the construction site if he failed to adhere to their demands," he said in a statement here today.
The contractor refused to comply with the group's demand and lodged a police report subsequently.
Munusamy said the Sentul police anti-vice, gaming and secret society division (D7) initiated an investigation under Section 385 of the Penal Code for extortion.
"Following the probe, police detained four men aged between 22 and 32 years in houses along Taman Pelangi at 3pm on Wednesday," he added.
Upon interrogation, the four men admitted that they were involved in the extortion case.
He advised individuals or traders not to pay any amount of money to anyone including gangsters who claimed to offer protection for their businesses.
"They should lodge a police report and let the police investigate and arrest the criminals," he said.