Police arrests two 17-yr old loanshark runners

SINGAPORE - Two youths, aged 17 years old, have been arrested by the police for their suspected involvement in loanshark harassment cases.

Last month, police had received several reports of loanshark harassment such as paint splashed on walls and loanshark related writings on walls in the vicinity of Tanglin Halt Road housing estates.

Officers from Clementi Police Division later arrested the first suspect in the vicinity of Tanglin Halt Road on Oct 1 at about 12am, after reviewing footage from the Police CCTV.

Loanshark-related paraphernalia such as three marker pens, 12 paint cans and a piece of paper with debtors' records were found in his possession and seized as case exhibits.

The second suspect was arrested in the vicinity of Airport Boulevard later on the same day at 3.05 pm.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects are believed to be involved in several cases of loanshark harassment committed in housing estates such as Tanglin Halt Road, Eunos Crescent and Bedok Reservoir Road.

The suspects will be charged in Court on Oct 2 for loanshark harassment under the Moneylenders Act (Revised Edition 2010).

First time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment shall be fined not less than $5,000 and not more than $50,000 with mandatory imprisonment of up to 5 years and mandatory caning of up to 6 strokes.

gronglho@sph.com.sg