4 men arrested for involvement in loanshark activities

SINGAPORE - In two separate cases, Police have arrested four men for their suspected involvement in loansharking activities.

In the first case, on May 13, 2014 at 4.40am, while performing anti-crime patrols, officers from Clementi Police Division spotted three subjects behaving suspiciously in the vicinity of Jurong East Street 31.

The men fled upon seeing the officers approaching them. The officers gave chase and managed to apprehend one of them.

Follow-up investigations revealed that the three men are believed to have splashed paint on a debtor's unit prior to their encounter with the officers. Officers arrested the other two suspects in the vicinity of Bishan St 22 and Yishun Ring Road on the same day at about 1pm.

Preliminary investigations revealed all three are believed to be involved in several cases of loanshark harassment committed at housing estates such as Jurong East, Woodlands, Tampines and Ang Mo Kio.

In the second case, on May 12, 2014 at about 10pm, acting on information received, Crime Strike Force officers from Woodlands East Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) conducted an ambush and arrested a 34-year-old at Woodlands Crescent. Upon his arrest, one handphone and two ATM cards were seized in connection to the case.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused had assisted to collect repayment from a debtor. He had also assisted the loanshark syndicate to collect Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and used his own ATM card to perform fund transactions related to loansharking businesses.

First time offenders found guilty of assisting in the carrying on of the business of an unlicensed moneylender may be fined not less than $30,000 and not more than $300,000, be imprisoned for a term not exceeding four years and shall also be liable to be punished with caning of not more than six strokes.

spanaech@sph.com.sg