Police nab three men suspected of loanshark harassment
Published May 8, 2016, 10:13 pm SGT
Yeo Sam Jo
[video=youtube;_GRmVlFS3JA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GRmVlFS3JA[/video]
SINGAPORE - The police have nabbed three men suspected to be involved in a loanshark harassment case involving fire.
The incident was reported at Block 554 Bedok North Street 3 on May 2, the police said in a statement on Sunday (May 8).
Following probes and ground enquiries, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department arrested the three suspects, aged 19 to 20, in the vicinity of Chai Chee Road and Compassvale Drive on May 7.
Preliminary investigations showed that the youths are also believed to be behind two other cases of loanshark harassment in which they splashed paint and scrawled graffiti.
The statement also stressed that the police have "zero tolerance" against loanshark harassment.
"Those who deliberately vandalise properties will be arrested swiftly and dealt with severely in accordance with the law. Upon conviction, these perpetrators can expect to be caned and jailed for damaging property and causing alarm to the general community," the police said.
"No effort will be spared to nab them to face the full consequences of their misdeeds regardless of their age."
First-time offenders found guilty of acting on behalf of an unlicensed moneylender, committing or attempting to commit acts of harassment can be jailed for up to five years and fined between $5,000 and $50,000 under the Moneylenders Act.
They are also liable to between three and six strokes of the cane.
