Police have arrested a total of 25 suspects, aged between 18 and 65, for their suspected involvement in loansharking activities in three separate cases.
In the first case, upon receiving a report regarding a case of loanshark harassment which occurred at a unit at Blk 865 Woodlands Street 83 on 27 June 2015, officers from Woodlands East Neighbourhood Police Centre carried out extensive enquiries. With the aid of Police Cameras (POLCAM), the officers managed to establish the identities of the two suspects and arrested them on 7 July 2015 in the vicinity of Jalan Tenteram. Preliminary investigations revealed that the 18-year-old woman and 19-year-old man were believed to have carried out the harassment on behalf of an unlicensed moneylending syndicate by splashing paint on the main door of debtor’s residence, locking the main-gate and scribbled graffiti on the wall. Upon their arrest, the attires worn by the suspects and 2 handphones were seized in connection to the case. Both suspects featured in the second case will be charged in Court on 8 July 2015.
In the second case, acting on information received, officers from Jurong Division arrested a 23-year-old woman on 6 July 2015 at about 7.20pm in the vicinity of Jurong West Central 1 for her suspected involvement in assisting unlicensed moneylending syndicate. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is believed to be a debtor-turned-runner and had assisted an unlicensed moneylending syndicate to procure Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card with Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) to facilitate unlicensed moneylending businesses. Upon her arrest, an ATM card and a handphone were seized in connection to the case. Investigations against the 23-year-old woman are still ongoing.
In the third case, 13 men and 9 women aged between 20 and 65 were arrested at various locations within Central Division during an anti-loansharking operation which took place on 6 and 7 July 2015. Preliminary investigations revealed that these suspects had opened bank accounts and given away their Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and Personal Identification Number (PIN) to the loansharks. These bank accounts were suspected to be used by the syndicates for loansharking activities. Investigations against all the suspects are ongoing.
Under the Moneylenders Act (Revised Edition 2010):
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First-time offenders found guilty of assisting in the business of unlicensed moneylending may be fined between $30,000 and $300,000, be imprisoned for a term of up to four years and shall also be liable to be punished with caning of up to six strokes.
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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 of up to 5 years, a fine of between $5,000 and $50,000, and shall also be liable to caning of between 3 and 6 strokes.
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Any person who is guilty of providing false contact information to obtain loans from loansharks shall be liable upon conviction to imprisonment for a term of up to 12 months. Under the National Registration Act, any person who is guilty of an offence of failing to report a change of address shall be liable on conviction to a fine of up to $5,000, or to imprisonment for a term of up to 5 years, or to both.
Members of public are advised to stay away from loansharks and not to assist the loansharks in any way. Members of public can call ‘999’ for urgent Police assistance, or the X-Ah Long hotline at 1800 924 5664 if they suspect or know of anyone who could be involved in loansharking activities.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
07 July 2015 @ 7:30 PM