Man and woman arrested for separate cases of loanshark harassment

A 38-year-old woman and a 48-year-old man were charged in court on Jan 18 over two separate cases of loanshark harassment.

In the first case on Jan 15, the police were alerted to a case of loanshark harassment along Tampines Street 71, where a residential unit was splashed with red paint and a debtor's note was pasted on the gate.

Through follow-up investigations and with the aid of images from police cameras, officers from Bedok Police Division, Central Police Division, Tanglin Police Division and Jurong Police Division established the woman's identity and arrested her on Jan 16.

Preliminary investigations revealed that she was also allegedly involved in other cases of loanshark harassment islandwide.

One mobile phone was seized as case exhibit.

For the second case on January 16, the police received a report of loanshark harassment along Pasir Ris Drive 6, where a debtor's note was placed on the gate of a residential unit.

Through follow-up investigations and with the aid of images from police cameras, officers from Bedok Police Division established the man's identity and arrested him on Jan 17.

Preliminary investigations revealed that he was also allegedly involved in other cases of loanshark harassment in Bukit Batok and Tampines.

One mobile phone was seized as case exhibit.

Both suspects were charged in court on Jan 18 under the Moneylenders Act 2008.

First-time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment face a fine 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 disrupt public safety, peace 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 them in any way.

Those who suspect or know of anyone who could be involved in loansharking activities can call the police at '999' or the X-Ah Long hotline at 1800-924-5664.