The Police have arrested two men and a woman aged between 20 and 38, for their suspected involvement in loansharking activities in three separate cases.
On 7 Mar 2016 at about 7.45 pm, officers from Jurong Division arrested one 38-year-old man in the vicinity of Bukit Batok Street 31 for his suspected involvement in loansharking activities. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is a debtor-turned-runner who assisted the loanshark syndicates to procure Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards with Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) from debtors and used them to perform ATM fund transactions. Upon his arrest, fourteen ATM cards, a stack of transaction receipts, two mobile phones and cash amounting to $1000/- were seized as case exhibits.
In another case, on 7 Mar 2016 at about 10.30 pm, Police arrested a 36-year-old man in the vicinity of Bukit Batok Central for his suspected involvement in loansharking activities. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is a debtor-turned-runner, who assisted the loanshark syndicates to procure ATM cards with PINs from debtors and used them to perform ATM fund transactions. The suspect is also believed to have used his personal ATM cards to facilitate unlicensed moneylending ATM transactions. Upon his arrest, Police seized twelve ATM cards, a stack of transaction receipts and two mobile phones in connection to the case.
On 27 Feb 2016, Police received a report on loanshark harassment at Woodlands Circle where the gate of a HDB unit had been locked with a bicycle lock and a loanshark related note was also placed outside the gate. Through extensive ground enquiries and footages from Police Cameras (POLCAMs), officers from Jurong Division arrested the 20-year-old female suspect at Petir Road on 8 Mar 2016. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is believed to have carried out similar act of harassments at Woodlands, Bukit Batok and Serangoon housing estates. The suspect is also believed to have opened bank accounts and given her ATM cards as well as the PINs to loanshark syndicates for their unlicensed moneylending business. Police seized one bag and a mobile phone in connection to the case.
The three suspects will be charged in the Court on 9 Mar 2016.
Under the Moneylenders Act (Revised Edition 2010), first-time offenders found guilty of carrying on the business as an unlicensed moneylender or assisting in the business of unlicensed moneylending may be fined not less than $30,000 and not more $300,000, be imprisoned for a term not exceeding four years and shall also be liable to be punished with caning not more than six strokes.
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
08 March 2016 @ 5:40 PM