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Kenshin Uesugi
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Dec 24, 2010
ATTACK BY LOAN SHARK'S RUNNER
Attack leaves 3 cars burnt
He left notes with names and addresses to put pressure on debtors
By Elena Chong
Low Chick Kim knew that this car did not belong to his target, yet he poured half a tin of lighter fluid on its bonnet and windscreen before setting it alight. He left five notes with the name and address of his target and of another debtor scattered around the carpark. -- SHIN MIN FILE PHOTO
A LOAN shark's runner caused $88,000 worth of damage after torching a car near a debtor's home - even though he knew it did not belong to his target.
Low Chick Kim - who was in debt to an illegal lender himself - had no idea who owned the white car, but picked it because the burn marks would be extra visible.
The fire then spread to two cars parked nearby. Low left five notes with the name and address of his target - and another debtor who lived elsewhere - scattered around the carpark in an attempt to put pressure on them.
On Thursday, the prosecution called for a stiff sentence for Low, 30, who was convicted last week of nine counts of harassment and one of helping an unlicensed moneylender.
The cafe worker was paid $500 to torch cars in Choa Chu Kang North 5 by a loan shark known as Jack, the court heard.
Low poured about half a tin of lighter fluid on the white car's bonnet and windscreen before setting it alight on Oct 13.
Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.
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