49-year-old man arrested for suspected loansharking activities
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Sunday, Jan 17, 2016
SINGAPORE - Police have arrested a 49-year-old man for suspected involvement in loansharking activities.
On Jan 16 at about 11.52pm, police received a call from a member of the public informing them that a man had been detained at Blk 412 Pandan Gardens for writing loanshark related graffiti on the wall outside a unit.
Police officers arrested the man when they arrived at the location. A permanent blue-ink marker and a mobile phone that were in his possession were seized as case exhibits, said a police statement.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is believed to have carried out similar acts of harassment in Punggol, Ang Mo Kio, Telok Blangah Crescent, and Bukit Batok housing estates, and is also suspected to have been involved in a case of aggravated harassment by fire in Stirling Road.
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 five years and mandatory caning of up to six strokes.
The police have zero tolerance against loanshark harassment, said the statement.
"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. No effort will be spared to nab them to face the full consequences of their misdeeds regardless of their age," added the statement.
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