19-year-old man nabbed for loanshark harassment in Bedok North

A 19-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday (Aug 30) for loanshark harassment along Bedok North Avenue 4.

The police said they were alerted to the case on August 26, in which the gate of a residential unit was secured with a bicycle lock. A debtor’s note had also been pasted at the water pipe beside the flat.

Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras, officers from Bedok Police Division established the man's identity and arrested him.

The police added: "Four bicycle locks, two debtor’s notes, one red marker and one mobile phone were seized as case exhibits."

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man was allegedly involved in other similar cases of loanshark harassment.

The man will be charged in court on Thursday under the Moneylenders Act 2008.

First-time offenders convicted of loanshark harassment face a fine of between $5,000 and $50,000, with up to five years in jail and up to six strokes of the cane.

The police said they have zero tolerance for loanshark harassment activities, adding: "Those who deliberately vandalise properties, cause annoyance and disruption to public safety and security, will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law."

Members of the public are advised to stay away from loansharks and not to work with or assist the loansharks in any way. You may call the police at '999' or the X-Ah Long hotline at 1800-924-5664 if you suspect or know of anyone who could be involved in loansharking activities.