122 arrested in island-wide blitz

SINGAPORE - A total of 122 persons were nabbed after police conducted two major operations over four days, from Feb 9 to Feb 12, 2015. Of the 122 arrested, there were 92 men and 30 women.

As part of the island-wide blitz, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the six Police land divisions conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations in Singapore, which saw a total of 104 persons arrested for suspected involvement in loansharking offences.

Preliminary investigations revealed that nine suspects were believed to be involved in loansharking activities as runners who had assisted the loansharks in their businesses by carrying out Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transfers or procuring ATM cards for the syndicates' usage.

Another three suspects were believed to be harassers who had carried out acts of loanshark harassment by splashing paint and scrawling loanshark-related graffiti on walls.

Police also arrested one suspect who was believed to have provided false contact information when obtaining loans from loansharks. The remaining 91 suspects were believed to have opened bank accounts and given away their ATM cards and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) to loansharks to facilitate their unlicensed moneylending businesses.

Police also conducted anti-crime operations at various locations island-wide and arrested a total of 18 persons who were wanted for a range of offences including cheating, criminal breach of trust, theft and drug offences.

Investigations against those arrested are ongoing.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations & Intelligence) concurrent Director CID Tan Chye Hee commended the officers for their proficiency, teamwork and dedication which resulted in these arrests. He said, "Police will take tough enforcement action against those involved in the loansharking business, regardless of their roles, and they will face the full brunt of the law. Police also take a stern view of those who displayed a blatant disregard for the law, and will continue to relentlessly hunt and bring these criminals to justice."

candicec@sph.com.sg