'Last warning' note pasted on door splashed with paint in Yishun, suspect arrested in Woodlands

Two men, aged 24 and 20, were arrested for their suspected involvement in two separate cases of loanshark harassment.

The police were alerted to the first case on Feb 28. Blue paint was splashed on the main door and gate of a flat at Canberra Street.

Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras, officers from Woodlands Police Division and Bedok Police Division established the identity of the 24-year-old man and arrested him the next day at King George's Avenue.

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

In the second case, the police were alerted on Feb 29 to red and yellow paint splashed on the main door and gate of a flat at Yishun Avenue 4.

A bicycle lock was fastened to the main gate and a debtor’s note was pasted on the main door. The note had a phone number to call and said: "Settle or loan. Last warning."

Officers from Woodlands Police Division arrested the 20-year-old man the next day at Woodlands Central.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is allegedly involved in another case of loanshark harassment at Jurong West Central 1.

Both men were charged in court on March 2 under the Moneylenders Act. For first-time offenders, the offence of loanshark harassment carries a fine between $5,000 and $50,000 with imprisonment of up to five years and caning of up to six strokes.