3 loanshark runners arrested in 3 separate cases
Asia One Wednesday, Jul 30, 2014
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SINGAPORE - The police have arrested three male suspects, aged between 23 and 45, for their involvement in loansharking activities in three separate cases.
In the first case, between July 15 and July 21, a series of loanshark harassment cases were reported in the vicinities of Yishun, Bukit Batok, Bukit Panjang and Teck Whye.
Crime Strike Force (CSF) officers from the Bukit Batok Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC), Woodlands East NPC and Yishun North NPC arrested a 45-year-old male suspect on July 29 at about 5pm in the vicinity of Marsiling Road. One handphone containing debtors' records, one black marker pen, and two bags were seized upon his arrest.
Preliminary investigations revealed that he had assisted in loanshark harassment at Jurong East, Bukit Panjang, Bangkit Road, Yishun, Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok, Hougang, Potong Pasir and Teck Whye public housing estates, by splashing red paint at debtors' units and scribbling loanshark graffiti on the walls.
In the second case, on July 29, at about 5.20pm, CSF officers from the Choa Chu Kang NPC arrested a 27-year-old male suspect in the vicinity of Jurong East Street 21 for assisting the loanshark syndicate to procure Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card and Personal Identification Number (PIN) from one debtor to facilitate unlicensed moneylending ATM transactions. Upon his arrest, one handphone and one ATM card were seized in connection to the case.
In the third case, on July 30, at about 9.05am, officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division arrested a 23-year-old male suspect in the vicinity of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect was a loanshark runner and had delivered debtor notes to debtors at their addresses.
The three suspects will be charged in court on July 31. First time offenders found guilty of assisting the business of an unlicensed moneylender, may be fined between $30,000 and $300,000, be imprisoned for up to four years and will also be liable to be caned a maximum of six strokes.
First time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment may be imprisoned for up to 5 years, fined between $5,000 and $50,000, and will also be liable to be caned between 3 and 6 strokes.
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