Man arrested for loanshark harassment in Marsiling, Dover, Compassvale, Bedok Reservoir and Yishun

A 36-year-old man was arrested for his suspected involvement in a series of loanshark harassment cases along Marsiling Drive, Dover Close East, Compassvale Street, Bedok Reservoir Road and Yishun Avenue 6.

Police said that between Oct 19 and 20, they received multiple reports of loanshark harassment where the gate of several residential units were splashed with paint, secured with bicycle locks and hung with pork.

Through follow-up investigations and with the aid of images from police cameras, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and Bedok Police Division established the identity of the man and subsequently arrested him on Oct 21.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man was involved in at least six similar harassment cases.

He was to be charged in court on Oct 22 under the Moneylenders Act 2008.

For first-time offenders, the offence of loanshark harassment where damage was caused to any property carries a fine of between $5,000 and $50,000, with mandatory imprisonment of up to five years, and mandatory caning of up to six strokes. Repeat offenders shall be fined between $6,000 and $60,000, with mandatory imprisonment between two years and nine years, and mandatory caning of up to 10 strokes.

You are advised to stay away from loansharks and not to work with or assist them in any way.

You can 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 illegal loansharking activities.