Man arrested for loanshark harassment after Boon Lay unit gets black paint and debtor's note

A 44-year-old man was arrested on Feb 26 for his suspected involvement in loanshark harassment.

The police said they were alerted to a case on Feb 24 where black paint was splashed onto a residential unit at Boon Lay Place, with a debtor's note left behind.

Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras, officers from Jurong, Bedok and Ang Mo Kio Police Divisions established the man's identity and arrested him.

Preliminary investigations revealed that he is also believed to be involved in other similar cases of loanshark harassment islandwide.

The man will be charged in court on Feb 28 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. They added: "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.