Man, 56, arrested for loanshark harassment where Ubi unit was secured with bicycle lock

A 56-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday (Oct 12) for his suspected involvement in a case of loanshark harassment.

The police said they were alerted on Monday to a case of loanshark harassment along Ubi Avenue 1, where the gate of a residential unit was secured with a bicycle lock and a debtor's note was left behind.

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

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is believed to be involved in multiple cases of loanshark harassment island-wide.

One bicycle lock, a notebook and a black marker were seized as case exhibits.

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

First-time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment may 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 against loanshark harassment activities, adding: "Those who deliberately vandalise properties, cause annoyance or disruptions to the public sense of safety, peace and security, will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law."