'Ah Long' hotline asks no names
By Ng Kai Ling
The Straits Times
Tuesday, Nov 06, 2012
SINGAPORE - The National Crime Prevention Council has emphasised that callers to a hotline on illegal moneylending can choose not to reveal personal details.
It said this in a reply to media queries, after the name of a former loan shark runner - who had called the hotline to turn himself in - was revealed in court.
A reader had written to The Straits Times Forum Page to ask why the name was revealed even though he had called a hotline that promised anonymity if the caller so wished.
A spokesman for the council said it had not revealed that caller's name and that "he turned himself in".
He added that callers to the X Ah Long hotline - 1800-924-5664 - do not have to leave their names and contact details.
Last Wednesday, The Straits Times reported that Derrick Leaw had called the hotline in September 2010 because he did not want to open bank accounts for a loan shark.
His case was referred to the police and he was eventually charged for assisting an unlicensed moneylender.
The 22-year-old pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months' jail and a $90,000 fine.
On appeal, a judge reduced his jail term to three weeks because he had turned himself in by calling the hotline.
Lawyer Lee Terk Yang, commenting on the case, said the anonymity clause does not apply to Leaw as he turned himself in.
"I don't think there was ever an intention to give anonymity to those who turn themselves in," he added.
He said a runner could call the hotline anonymously to report on a loan shark, but if investigations found that he was involved in illegal moneylending activities and he was charged in court, his name would come up.
The hotline was launched in August 2010 by the National Crime Prevention Council as an avenue for people to provide information on loan-sharking activities without having to go to the police.
The number of calls has increased significantly over time.
In the first 10 months of this year, more than 1,500 came in, compared with the fewer than 1,000 last year.
Members of the public call for various reasons. Some are in trouble with loan sharks, or know someone who is, and need advice.
Others call to offer tip-offs on loan sharks.
In the first half of this year, the police nabbed 1,033 people for unlicensed moneylending and harassment.
The figure is 21.8 per cent more than the 848 arrests in the same period last year.
