http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1130890/1/.html
Men, girls to be charged with loansharking activities
By Shaffiq Alkhatib | Posted: 24 May 2011 1848 hrs
Photos 1 of 1
SINGAPORE: Twelve men and two 14-year-old girls will be charged on Wednesday in court with loansharking activities.
The girls are believed to be loanshark harassers.
The girls allegedly splashed paint and scrawled graffiti on walls at housing estates in Woodlands, Bukit Batok and Choa Chu Kang.
The men, aged between 16 and 49 years old, are believed to be debtors-turned-runners, who helped loanshark syndicates with their businesses.
Most of them allegedly opened bank accounts and gave items such as their ATM cards as well as Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) to illegal moneylenders.
It is believed they did so for monetary gains and to avoid harassment from other loanshark runners.
First-time offenders convicted of assisting illegal money-lenders with their businesses can be jailed up to four years, fined a maximum of S$300,000 and caned up to six strokes.
Those found guilty of loanshark harassment for the first time can be jailed up to five years, fined a maximum of S$50,000 and caned up to six strokes.
-CNA/wk
Men, girls to be charged with loansharking activities
By Shaffiq Alkhatib | Posted: 24 May 2011 1848 hrs
Photos 1 of 1
SINGAPORE: Twelve men and two 14-year-old girls will be charged on Wednesday in court with loansharking activities.
The girls are believed to be loanshark harassers.
The girls allegedly splashed paint and scrawled graffiti on walls at housing estates in Woodlands, Bukit Batok and Choa Chu Kang.
The men, aged between 16 and 49 years old, are believed to be debtors-turned-runners, who helped loanshark syndicates with their businesses.
Most of them allegedly opened bank accounts and gave items such as their ATM cards as well as Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) to illegal moneylenders.
It is believed they did so for monetary gains and to avoid harassment from other loanshark runners.
First-time offenders convicted of assisting illegal money-lenders with their businesses can be jailed up to four years, fined a maximum of S$300,000 and caned up to six strokes.
Those found guilty of loanshark harassment for the first time can be jailed up to five years, fined a maximum of S$50,000 and caned up to six strokes.
-CNA/wk
