The Police have arrested 4 men, aged 19 to 51, for their suspected involvement in loansharking activities in three separate cases.
In the first case, officers from Ang Mo Kio Division arrested two men, both aged 19, along Hougang Street 21 and Anchorvale respectively through follow-up investigations, between 4 and 5 January 2016. Preliminary investigations indicated that the duo were believed to have splashed paint and scribbled loanshark-related graffiti on the wall of the affected unit. A marker and three bank ATM cards were seized as case exhibits. Both suspects are also believed to be involved in other harassment cases in Yishun estate.
In the second case, officers from Ang Mo Kio Division arrested a 51-year-old man along Ang Mo Kio Ave 9 on 4 January 2017 at about 10.30 am. He is believed to have scrawled loanshark-related graffiti on the wall of the affected unit and assisted loansharks to verify whether the debtors’ units had been harassed before.
In the third case, officers from Ang Mo Kio Division arrested a 22-year-old man along Toa Payoh Central on 5 January 2017 at 6.00 am. He is believed to be involved in several loanshark harassments in the Hougang and Yishun estate.
The 4 suspects will be charged in Court on 6 January 2017 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 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. First-time offenders found guilty of assisting in the carrying on of the business of an unlicensed moneylender, 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 with not more than six strokes.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
05 January 2017 @ 8:50 PM