Police have arrested three men, aged between 24 and 48, for their suspected involvement in two separate cases of loanshark harassment.
2 In the first case, on 30 March 2015 at about 9.40pm, acting on information received, officers from the Jurong Police Division arrested a 48-year-old man at Bukit Batok Central for his suspected involvement in loansharking activities. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is believed to be a debtor-turned-runner, who assisted a loanshark syndicate to procure Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card and Personal Identification Number (PINs) from a debtor to facilitate unlicensed moneylending activities. Upon his arrest, the Police had seized one ATM card and one handphone believed to be in connection to the case.
3 In the second case, on 31 March 2015 at about 3.29am, acting on information received, officers from the Jurong Police Division arrested two men, aged 24 and 31 along Jurong West Central 1 for their suspected involvement in loansharking activities. Preliminary investigations revealed that both suspects are believed to be recruited by a loanshark syndicate to carry out harassment acts at Jurong West and Bukit Batok public housing estates by spraying paint on the main doors of debtors’ residences, and scribbling loanshark related graffiti on the walls. Upon their arrest, the Police seized two cans of spray paint and two marker pens believed to be in connection to the case.
4 All three suspects will be charged in Court on 1 April 2015. Under the Moneylenders Act 2010 (Revised Edition), first-time offenders found guilty of carrying on the business as an unlicensed moneylender or assisting in the business of unlicensed moneylending may be fined not less than $30,000 and not more $300,000, be imprisoned for a term not exceeding four years and shall also be liable to be punished with caning not more than six strokes. First time offender found guilty of loanshark harassment shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of up to 5 years, a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $50,000, and shall also be liable to caning of not less than 3 and not more than 6 strokes.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
31 March 2015 @ 8:20 PM