In a six-hour operation conducted on 29 June 2016, Police arrested ten suspects, comprising eight men and two women aged between 24 and 66, for their suspected involvement in loansharking activities.
Following extensive ground enquiries conducted, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Police Intelligence Department (PID) conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations island-wide, resulting in the arrests. During the operation, items such as mobile phones, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, internet banking security devices, SIM cards, bank transaction slips and cash amounting to about $25,000/ were seized as case exhibits. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are believed to be involved in various roles in the loansharking syndicate, including ‘runners’ who had performed ATM transactions for the syndicate.
Five of the suspects, men aged between 24 and 40, will be charged in Court on 1 July 2016 with offences under the Moneylenders Act (Revised Edition 2010). Investigations against the remaining suspects are ongoing.
Head of the Unlicensed Moneylending Strikeforce of CID, Superintendent of Police Loh Kah Wai said, “Police will persevere with our relentless enforcement efforts against the loansharking menace and we will track down those involved in such criminal acts and bring them to justice.”
Members of public are advised to stay away from loansharks and not to work with or assist loansharks in any way. The public can call the Police at ‘999’ or the X-Ah Long hotline at 1800 924 5664 if they suspect or know of anyone who could be involved in illegal loansharking activities.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
30 June 2016 @ 12:30 PM