3 men arrested for loansharking activities

SINGAPORE - Police have separately arrested three men, aged 22, 19 and 52, for suspected involvement in loansharking activities in three separate cases.

In the first case, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division arrested the 22- and 19-year-old suspects in the vicinity of Woodlands Circle for suspected involvement in loansharking activities on Feb 25, 2014 at about 11.35pm.

Their arrests resulted from information provided by a member of the public through the online Crimestopper portal.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects had committed loanshark harassment assisted loansharks by splashing paint and writing on walls of debtors' units.

In the second case, through follow-up investigations, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division arrested the 52-year-old suspect in the vicinity of Serangoon Central for using his previous residential address to obtain illegal loans from loansharks on Feb 26, 2014 at about 4.10am.

This had caused the current house occupants to be harassed by loansharks.

In addition, the suspect is also being investigated for failing to report the change of his residential address under the National Registration Act.

Investigations against this 52-year-old suspect are on-going.

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 five years and mandatory caning of up to six strokes

Any person who is guilty of providing false contact information to obtain loans from loansharks shall be liable upon conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months.

Under the National Registration Act, any person who is guilty of an offence of failing to report a change of address shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.

Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Keok Tong San, commended his officers for their perseverance and commitment in the fight against loansharking activities, adding that the police will continue to come down hard on all those involved in loanshark activities.

spanaech@sph.com.sg