The Police have arrested a 24-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of loanshark harassment cases involving fire.
Since 30 December 2016, the Police had received several reports of loanshark harassment cases involving fire. Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, the Police Intelligence Department and the various Police Divisions coordinated efforts and worked relentlessly to conduct extensive investigative probes and ground enquiries. The identity of the suspect was subsequently established with the aid of Police Cameras (POLCAM) mounted in the vicinity of the incident locations.
Following up on this lead, officers mounted an operation and arrested the suspect at a multi-storey carpark at Tampines Ave 7 on 9 January 2017. During the operation, items such as a cap, a hoodie, a mobile phone and a lighter were seized as case exhibits. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is believed to be responsible for four cases of loanshark harassment involving fire reported at Bedok North Road, Bishan Street 24, Marsiling Road and Tampines Street 83. The suspect is also believed to be responsible for more than 10 cases of loanshark harassment by splashing paint and scrawling of loanshark-related graffiti on the walls of affected units.
The suspect will be charged in Court on 11 January 2017 for loanshark harassment. 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 five 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 three and not more than six strokes.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations & Intelligence) concurrent Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Tan Chye Hee commended the officers for working together to solve the case. He added, “The Police have zero tolerance for such lawless acts of loanshark harassment involving fire. We will continue with our tough enforcement action and spare no effort to nab these offenders to ensure that they face the full consequences of their misdeeds.”
Case Exhibits Seized
Scene Photos
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
10 January 2017 @ 6:30 PM