Loanshark harasser arrested
AsiaOne
Friday, Feb 08, 2013
SINGAPORE - Police have arrested a 34-year-old man for his suspected involvement in loansharking activities.
On Feb 7, 2013 at about 4.30pm, officers from Jurong Police Division were on anti-crime patrol in the vicinity of Fajar Road when they spotted the suspect with a sling bag behaving suspiciously.
The officers conducted a check on the man and placed him under arrest after discovering loanshark-related paraphernalia, including a marker, pen, bicycle lock, debtor notes, plastic bottles and plastic bags containing paint in his possession. These items were seized as case exhibits.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had acted on behalf of an unlicensed moneylender to carry out harassment by locking debtors' gates with bicycle locks, splashing of paint, scribbling loanshark-related graffiti and distributing debtors' notes to their units.
The suspect is also believed to have conducted harassment activities in Clementi, Yishun and Tampines housing estates.
First-time offenders found guilty of acting on behalf of an unlicensed moneylender, committing or attempting to commit any acts of harassment shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $50,000, and shall also be liable to caning of not more than six strokes.
Commander of Jurong Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police (DAC) Wilson Lim, commended his officers for their alertness and perseverance in the fight against loansharks.
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