Man and woman charged with loanshark harassment after Hougang flat is splashed with paint

A 39-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman were charged in court on Friday (Sept 29) with loanshark harassment.

The police said they were alerted to a case on Sept 27 in which a residential unit along Hougang Street 91 was splashed with paint. A debtor's note was also left behind.

Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division established the identities of the duo and arrested them on Sept 28.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the pair is believed to be involved in other similar cases of loanshark harassment.

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

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 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. 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.