3 cases of loanshark harassment on same day in Yishun, Marsiling and Punggol: 3 men arrested

Three men were arrested after the police were alerted to three cases of loanshark harassment in Yishun, Marsiling and Punggol on the same day.

The police said the first case they were alerted to on Thursday (Oct 19) was at 2.10pm involving a flat at Yishun Street 51.

A debtor’s note was pasted on the main gate, which was fastened with a bicycle lock.

Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras, officers from Woodlands and Ang Mo Kio Police Division established the identity of the 69-year-old man and arrested him on the same day at about 8.25pm.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is allegedly involved in four other cases of loanshark harassment in Ang Mo Kio, Punggol and Bishan.

Related paraphernalia, including debtor’s notes, were seized as case exhibits.

In the second case, the police were alerted at 6.35pm that an unknown liquid believed to be turpentine was splashed at the doorway of a Marsiling Rise flat and a debtor’s note was left on a shoe rack beside the doorway.

Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras, officers from Woodlands and Jurong Police Division established the identity of the 29-year-old man and arrested him the next day.

Preliminary investigations disclosed that the man is allegedly involved in two cases of loanshark harassment in Choa Chu Kang and Jurong West.

In the third case on Thursday, the police were alerted at 9.10pm that the main gate of a Punggol Road flat was splashed with paint and fastened with a bicycle lock.

Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division established the identity of the 48-year-old man and arrested him the next day.

All three men were to be charged on Saturday under the Moneylenders Act 2008.

For first-time offenders, the offence of loanshark harassment carries a fine between $5000 and $50,000, with imprisonment of up to five years, and caning of up to six strokes.