Serial loanshark debtor harasser arrested

A 24-year-old man was arrested in connection with a series of island-wide loanshark harassment cases which included setting fire to units.

Since mid-August the police have been receiving several reports of loanshark harassment involving fire.

On Sep 10, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the suspect at Fajar Road.

The officers found on the suspect loanshark-related paraphernalia which included several handphones, ATM cards, stacks of bank transaction slips and statements and a marker, that were seized as case exhibits.

Initial investigations reveal that the suspect is responsible for more than 20 cases of loanshark harassment in the vicinity of Boon Keng, Yishun, Ang Mo Kio, Hougang, Sengkang, Punggol, Tampines, Woodlands and Bukit Batok. Six of the cases involved setting fire at the debtors' units.

If found guilty the suspect can be jailed up to 5 years, fined between $5,000 and $50,000 and be caned more than 3 strokes of the cane.