The Police have arrested a man and two male teenagers, aged between 15 and 28, for their suspected involvement in two separate cases of loanshark harassment.
In the first case, on 12 October 2020, the Police were alerted to a case of loanshark harassment along Bedok South Road where a residential unit was splashed with paint. Officers from Bedok Police Division and Tanglin Police Division mounted a joint operation and arrested a 19-year-old male teenager on 20 October 2020. One black marker, a pair of gloves and a plastic bottle containing paint were seized as case exhibits.
In the second case, on 19 October 2020, the Police were alerted to a case of loanshark harassment along Bedok North Avenue 3 where the roller shutter of a shop was sprayed with paint, and loanshark-related graffiti was scrawled on it. Through investigations and with the aid of images from police cameras, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identities of a 15-year-old male teenager and a 28-year-old man, and arrested them on 20 and 21 October 2020 respectively. Two spray cans and one bicycle lock were seized as case exhibits.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the trio are believed to be separately involved in other loanshark harassment cases reported islandwide.
The man and the 19-year-old teenager will be charged in court on 22 October 2020 for offences under the Moneylenders Act (Revised Edition 2010). Police investigations are ongoing against the 15-year-old teenager. 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 five years, and mandatory caning of up to six strokes.
Members of the public are advised to stay away from loansharks and not to work with or assist the 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
21 October 2020 @ 10:50 PM