The Police have arrested a 16-year-old youth in connection to three cases of loanshark harassment involving fire, which were reported on 22 and 23 August 2017.
Following the reports, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Clementi Police Division and Bedok Police Division conducted extensive investigative probes and ground enquiries. The officers’ efforts paid off when the identity of the suspect was established and he was arrested at Geylang by the Police on 24 August 2017. Items including two black t-shirts, two mobile phones, one black jacket, one pair of slippers, one marker and one lighter were seized as case exhibits. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is believed to be responsible for several cases of loanshark harassment involving fire, splashing of paint as well as padlocking gates to debtor’s unit islandwide.
The suspect will be charged in Court on 26 August 2017 with 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 hard work and determination of the officers in solving the case. He added, “Police have zero tolerance for such lawless acts of loanshark harassment involving fire. Those inclined to commit these acts of harassment causing damage and endangering lives of innocent victims will be pursued and dealt with severely in accordance with the law.”
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
25 August 2017 @ 9:00 PM