The Police have arrested six men aged between 15 and 31, for their suspected involvement in loansharking activities in three separate cases.
In the first case, on 9 Apr 2016, Police received a report on loanshark harassment where a unit was splashed with paint and loanshark graffiti was scrawled on the wall of a HDB block at Woodlands Ring Road. Through extensive ground enquiries and review of footages from Police Cameras (POLCAMs), officers from Jurong Division arrested 4 men aged between 15 and 28 along Geylang Road and Bedok North Road on 11 Apr 2016. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are believed to have carried out similar acts of harassments at Woodlands and Ang Mo Kio housing estates. Police seized one black marker pen and a mobile phone in connection to the case.
In another case, on 11 Apr 2016 at about 3.40 pm, officers from Jurong Division arrested a 31-year-old man at the vicinity of Jurong West Central 2. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is a debtor-turned-runner who assisted the loanshark syndicates to procure Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards with Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) from debtors. Upon his arrest, 2 ATM cards, one banking token and a mobile phone were seized as case exhibits.
Finally in the third case, on 11 Apr 2016 at about 10.00 pm, Police arrested a 28-year-old man in the vicinity of Bukit Batok Central. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is a debtor-turned-runner, who assisted the loanshark syndicates to procure ATM cards with PINs from debtors and used them to perform ATM fund transactions. The suspect is also believed to have used his personal ATM cards to facilitate unlicensed moneylending ATM transactions. Upon his arrest, Police seized five ATM cards, 2 banking tokens, a stack of transaction receipts and 3 mobile phones in connection to the case.
The six suspects will be charged in the Court on 13 Apr 2016.
Under the Moneylenders Act (Revised Edition 2010), 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 than $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.
Under the Moneylenders Act (Revised Edition 2010), first time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment shall be fined not less than $5,000 and not more than $50,000 with mandatory imprisonment of up to 5 years and mandatory.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
12 April 2016 @ 4:00 PM