GEORGETOWN: As a result of failing to pay a loan of RM10,000, a woman was locked up for two days at a budget hotel in Jalan Malabar, here, besides being beaten by four men.

The 47-year-old victim was later rescued by the police through a raid carried out last Wednesday.

Penang police chief Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the victim was beaten by four local men believed to be involved in the activity at about 5.30pm on January 3.

He said the suspect also ran away with the car keys and two ATM cards belonging to the woman before the victim who was slightly injured in the head was left in the hotel.

"The victim was later rescued by a team from the Central Police Station two days later, at about 10.30pm. The investigation found that the victim failed to make a loan payment of RM10,000 to one of the suspects.

"Acting on information and intelligence, the police later managed to arrest four suspects at 2am last Friday in Jalan Perak, Jelutong here. The case is being investigated under Section 395 of the Penal Code," he told a press conference at the Pulau Pinang Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK) here, today.

Mohd Shuhaily said the police managed to seize the victim's case items and further examination of the four suspects aged 25 to 30 years old found no criminal or drug records, but they were found to be involved in a treasonous case with fire related to the report on May 16 last year.

He said, based on the report, a man claimed that there was a small fire in front of the house in Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim, Jelutong, believed to be done by the suspect who also followed a family member of the victim to make a loan with them.

"For the case, the investigation was conducted in accordance with Section 435 of the Penal Code. All suspects were remanded for four days ending today," he said.