Debt collectors who messed up Funan stall arrested for unlawful assembly

SINGAPORE - Police have arrested the debt collectors who caused a ruckus at the Food Junction foodcourt at Funan DigitaLife Mall during lunchtime last month.

According to a statement from the police, seven men aged between 35 and 48 have been nabbed for their involvement in a case of unlawful assembly.

The incident occurred at about 1.20pm on Jan 15. Preliminary investigations by police revealed that the debt collectors were demanding loan repayment from one of the stall owners. It is believed that they had prevented customers from patronising the food stall during that time.

According to the police, the identities of all seven suspects were established after an extensive probe and they were eventually arrested on Feb 12 and 13 at various locations island-wide.

Computers, laptops and company documents were also seized as case exhibits.

All seven suspects will be charged in Court on Feb 14 for an offence of Unlawful Assembly which is punishable with jail term of up to two years or with a fine, or both.

The New Paper reported on Jan 22 that the debt collectors were from Double Ace Associates, and wore dark blue polo shirts with the words "Debt Recovery Unit" on the back.

The 53-year-old stall owner, who gave his name only as Mr Zhang, told Lianhe Wanbao that he owed a supplier $21,000, but never expected the supplier to hire a debt collector to chase the debt.

The floor of his Chinese soup stall was littered with empty bowls, styrofoam boxes, a rice cooker and a cash register after they were done. A plastic spoon and a plastic container with condiments were also reportedly thrown into a pot of soup.

The debt collectors also returned the next day with a large banner that read "Attention. Debt collection in progress".

However when interviewed by The New Paper, Mr Frankie Tan, the owner of Double Ace Associates, claimed the mess in the stall was not created by his employees.

candicec@sph.com.sg