23-year-old man arrested for suspected loansharking activities

SINGAPORE - Police have arrested a 23-year-old man for suspected involvement in loansharking activities.

On May 26 at about 12.57am, a suspicious character was seen loitering outside a residential unit at Jurong East Avenue 1.

Police officers from Clementi Police Division found that the house was splashed with paint and the suspect was detained shortly after conducting a search.

The man is believed to have assisted loanshark syndicates by splashing paint outside debtors' residences and scrawling loanshark-related graffiti on walls in Jurong East and Boon Lay public housing estates.

The suspect will be charged in court on May 27 for loanshark harassment.

Under the Moneylenders Act, first time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment will be fined a minimum of $5,000 and maximum of $50,000. Those found guilty will also be jailed for up to five years and face up to six strokes of the cane.

stephluo@sph.com.sg