Police have arrested four men, aged between 26 and 34, for their suspected involvement in a series of loanshark harassments at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) islandwide.
2 On 7 May 2015, Police received nine reports of ATMs being splashed with black paint. In some of these cases, debtors’ notes believed to be related to loanshark harassment were also discovered at the ATMs. Since the receipt of the first report, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, Police Intelligence Department, Central Police Division, Bedok Police Division, and Tanglin Police Division worked relentlessly to carry out extensive intelligence probes and ground enquiries. The officers’ efforts paid off when the identities of the suspects were established and they were subsequently arrested on 8 May 2015.
3 All four suspects will be charged in Court on 9 May 2015 for loanshark harassment. Under the Moneylenders Act (Revised Edition 2010), first-time offenders found guilty of acting on behalf of an unlicensed moneylender, committing or attempting to commit any acts of harassment shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding five 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 three and not more than six strokes.
4 Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations & Intelligence) concurrent Director of the Criminal Investigation Department Tan Chye Hee commended the officers for their close collaboration which resulted in the swift arrests. He said, “Police do not condone such lawless acts which cause damage to public property and acts of harassment which threaten the community’s sense of safety. Police will spare no effort to apprehend the offenders and ensure that they face the full brunt of the law.”
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
08 May 2015 @ 10:50 PM