The Police have arrested four persons aged between 26 and 39, for their suspected involvement in loansharking harassment activities.
Arrest of a 36-year-old woman
On 23 February 2017, the Police received a report informing that a residential unit at Bishan Street 13 had been splashed with coffee. Loanshark-related graffiti were also found scrawled on the wall near the affected unit. Through extensive ground enquiries, officers from Tanglin Division established the identity of the 36-year-old suspect and arrested her along Bishan Street 23 on 3 May 2017.
Arrest of two men aged 26 and 32
On 28 April 2017, the Police received a report of a case of loanshark harassment, where a residential unit at Choa Chu Kang was splashed with paint and loanshark-related graffiti were found scrawled on the wall at the lift lobby. Through extensive ground enquiries and with the aid of footages from Police Cameras (POLCAMs), officers from Jurong Division established the identities of the two suspects aged 26 and 32, and arrested them along Lorong 7 Toa Payoh on 3 May 2017. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are believed to have carried out similar acts of harassment at Tampines, Serangoon and Sembawang housing estates. Police seized personal apparels and 2 mobile phones as case exhibits (as shown in image below).
Arrest of a 39-year-old man
Between the period of 25 April 2017 to 3 May 2017, the Police received several reports of gates of residential units in Ang Mo Kio, Hougang, Punggol, Yishun, Sembawang and Queenstown being chained and locked up. Loanshark-related graffiti were also scrawled on the walls next to the victims’ units. Through extensive ground enquiries and with the aid of images from Police cameras (POLCAMs), officers from Ang Mo Kio Division and Queenstown Neighbourhood Police Centre established the identity of the 39-year-old suspect and arrested him along Havelock Road on 4 May 2017.
The four suspects will be charged in Court on 5 May 2017 under the Moneylenders Act 2010 (Revised Edition). 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 5 years and mandatory caning of up to 6 strokes.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
04 May 2017 @ 6:00 PM