Police have arrested 2 men and 1 woman, aged between 26 and 49, for their suspected involvement in 2 separate cases of assisting loanshark syndicates.
2 Between 28 May 2015 and 2 June 2015, Police received reports informing that 2 cars had been splashed with black paint and pasted with debtor notes at the car parks of Block 174 Bukit Batok West Avenue 8 and Block 947 Jurong West Street 91. Acting on the reports, officers from Jurong Division immediately carried out extensive probes and ground enquiries. Their relentless efforts finally paid off when the identities of the male suspects were established and they were subsequently hauled up on 29 June 2015.
3 Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects, aged 26 and 30, had splashed black paint on cars and pasted debtor notes on behalf of loanshark syndicates. Investigations further revealed that the 26-year-old suspect had also assisted the loanshark syndicates to procure Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards with Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) from other debtors to perform ATM transactions relating to the operations of unlicensed moneylending. 4 ATM cards, 1 handphone and cash amounting to S$260/- were seized as case exhibits.
4 In the second case, on 29 June 2015 at about 12.50pm, through follow up investigation, officers from Jurong Division arrested a 49-year-old female suspect in the vicinity of Ubi View for assisting a loanshark syndicate to procure ATM cards with PINs to facilitate unlicensed moneylending businesses.
5 Both men in the first case will be charged in Court on 1 July 2015 whilst the investigation against the woman is ongoing.
6 Under the Moneylenders Act 2010 (Revised Edition):
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First time offenders 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.
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First-time offender 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.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
30 June 2015 @ 5:00 PM