The Police have arrested three men, aged between 23 and 50, for their suspected involvement in three separate cases of loanshark harassment.
For the first case on 1 January 2024, the Police were alerted to a case of loanshark harassment along Jalan Batu, where the gate of a residential unit was splashed with black paint. Through follow-up investigations and with the aid of images from Police cameras, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identity of a 50-year-old man and arrested him on 4 January 2024.
For the second case on 4 January 2024, the Police received a call for assistance along Jalan Eunos, where a 23-year-old man allegedly took photos of the victim’s residential unit. He also assisted in the harassment of the victim by handing over a mobile phone with the loanshark demanding for repayment over the phone. Police officers from Bedok Police Division attended to the incident and arrested the man at scene. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man was allegedly involved in other cases of loanshark harassment.
For the third case on 4 January 2024, the Police were alerted to a case of loanshark harassment along Yishun Avenue 6, where a plastic bag containing three slabs of fresh pork and some raw eggs was thrown at the victim’s residential unit door. Through follow-up investigations and with the aid of images from Police cameras, officers from the Public Transport Security Command, Police Operations Command Centre, Woodlands Police Division and Criminal Investigation Department established the identity of a 39-year-old man and arrested him within nine hours of the report.
The three men will be charged in court on 6 January 2024 under the Moneylenders Act 2008. For first-time offenders, the offence of loanshark harassment carries a fine of between $5,000 and $50,000, with imprisonment of up to five years, and caning of up to six strokes.
The Police have zero tolerance against loanshark harassment activities. Those who deliberately vandalise properties, cause annoyance or disruption 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 to work with or assist them 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 loansharking activities
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SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
05 January 2024 @ 11:00 PM