Man nabbed for loanshark harassment after gate of Bedok flat gets locked with bicycle lock

A 59-year-old man was arrested last Wednesday (Oct 4) for his suspected involvement in a case of loanshark harassment.

The police said they were alerted to a case on Oct 3, at around 5.30pm, in which the gate of a residential unit at Bedok North Road had been secured with a bicycle lock.

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

One mobile phone was seized as a case exhibit.

The man was charged in court on Oct 6 under the Moneylenders Act 2008.

For first-time offenders, the offence of loanshark harassment carries a fine between $5000 and $50,000, with imprisonment of up to five years, and caning of up to six strokes.

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.

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. 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.