The Police have arrested 2 men and 1 woman, aged between 23 and 31, for their suspected involvement in separate cases of loanshark harassment.
For the first case, the Police were alerted on 20 July 2020 to a case of loanshark harassment along Woodlands Street 32, where a debtor’s note was found affixed to the door of a residential unit.
For the second case, the Police were alerted on 2 August 2020 to a case of loanshark harassment along Woodlands Drive 16, where the door of a residential unit was splashed with paint and loanshark-related grafitti was found scribbled on the wall outside the unit.
Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras, officers from Woodlands Police Division and Jurong Police Division established the identity of the 23-year-old man who was responsible for the first case, and the 26-year-old man and 31-year-old woman who were responsible for the second case. They were subsequently arrested on 3 August 2020. The duo in the second case are believed to be involved in other similar cases of loanshark harassment.
All three individuals will be charged in court on 5 August 2020 under the Moneylenders Act (2010 Revised Edition). For first time offenders, the offence of loanshark harassment carries a fine of 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.
The Police have zero tolerance approach towards loanshark harassment activities. Those who deliberately vandalise properties, cause annoyance and disruption to public safety, peace and security, will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law.
Members of the public are advised to stay away from loansharks and not work with or assist the loansharks in any way. The public may 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 loansharking activities.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
04 August 2020 @ 11:45 PM