Which element indicates criminal usury?

Criminal usury is defined by the imposition of excessively high interest rates on loans. In many jurisdictions, an interest rate over a certain threshold—commonly set at 20%—is considered to be criminal usury. This threshold aims to protect consumers from predatory lending practices that can lead to unmanageable debt.

When a loan carries an interest rate above this limit, it potentially subjects the lender to criminal liability, as it exploits the borrower's financial situation. The determination of what constitutes criminal usury usually involves a legal standard that establishes this higher interest rate as a reflection of exploiting borrowers.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of criminal usury. A loan with no interest, for example, does not involve lending conditions that could be exploitative. Similarly, loans with interest rates below 20% are generally not subject to criminal usury laws. Lastly, payment plans with low interest rates also do not indicate criminal usury as they adhere to acceptable lending practices. Therefore, the option identifying a loan with an interest rate over 20% correctly signifies the condition under which criminal usury occurs.