Loanshark harassment suspect arrested with public's help

The police have arrested a 27-year-old Malaysian man for suspected involvement in loanshark harassment, with the assistance of two public-spirited individuals.

A member of the public informed the police on June 27 that he and his neighbour had detained a man at Block 166 Bishan St 13 for defacing the wall outside their units.

The police arrested a man wearing a business suit and seized a permanent black-ink marker and a mobile phone in his possession.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect may have committed loanshark harassment at over 70 locations island-wide by writing loanshark-related graffiti on the walls of HDB residential units in Bishan, Yishun and Woodlands.

First-time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment face a fine of between $5,000 and $50,000, a jail term of up to five years, and up to six strokes of caning.

minlee@sph.com.sg