Man arrested for making false police report after cutting his own arm and blaming loansharks for it

An 84-year-old man was arrested for allegedly lodging a false police report.

The incident happened at Block 234 Hougang Avenue 1 on Friday (Jan 19) at about 10.22am, and the suspect lives in a flat nearby. 

He had reportedly told the police that he was stabbed twice in his arm by an unlicensed moneylender. 

During the course of the investigation, officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division found several inconsistencies in the suspect's statements, said the police in an official statement. 

It was established that the man had given false information.

Preliminary investigations also revealed that the injuries on his arm were self-inflicted.

According to Lianhe Wanbao, the man had owed more than $1,000 to the loansharks. 

When reporters visited the suspect’s home, his granddaughter, Chen Liting, 17, said that her grandfather was a busy man, and would often go out.

She said that she knew about the injuries on his arm, but did not know whether the wounds were self-inflicted, or if he owed loansharks money. 

Police investigations are ongoing. 

If convicted, the suspect faces up to one year jail or a fine up to $5,000, or both. 

The police would like to remind the public that resources can be put to better use in dealing with real crimes and emergencies.

Anyone who lodges a false police report or provides false information will face serious consequences under the law.