Police have arrested five youths, aged between 15 to 17, for their suspected involvement in loansharking activities.
Between 28 October to 2 November 2015, Police received several reports of red paint being splashed at the doors and loanshark-related graffiti found on walls of residential units believed to be linked to unlicensed moneylending. Officers from Central, Tanglin and Jurong Division conducted extensive investigative probes and ground enquiries. The suspects were subsequently identified with the aid of Police Cameras (POLCAMS) and were arrested by officers from Bukit Timah, Woodlands East and Rochor Neighbourhood Police Centre in Jurong on 3 November 2015. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are believed to be involved in more than 10 cases of loanshark harassments island-wide.
Three of the suspects will be charged in Court on 5 November 2015 for loanshark harassment. Investigations against the two other suspects are still ongoing. 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.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
04 November 2015 @ 6:10 PM