Man arrested for loanshark harassment

SINGAPORE - A 41-year-old man was arrested by the police in the early hours of Friday for suspected involvement in loanshark harassment.

Just past midnight today, the police received a report from a vigilant resident who spotted the suspect splashing paint and scrawling loanshark-related graffiti in the walls of an HDB block in the vicinity of Serangoon Central.

The police arrived at the scene and subsequently arrested the suspect.

Preliminary investigations show that the man could be involved in multiple loanshark harassment cases at Rivervale, Hougang, Ang Mo Kio, Tampines, Serangoon, and Woodland housing estates by splashing paint and scrawling graffiti on walls.

He may also be involved in at least one case of splashing paint on a victim's car to pressure the debtor into repayment.

A handphone containing various photos of housing units which were splashed with paint was found on the suspect and seized as case exhibit.

He will be charged in court tomorrow for loanshark harassment.

First-time offenders found guilty of acting on behalf of an unlicensed moneylender, committing or attempting to commit any acts of harassment shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $50,000, and shall also be liable to caning of not less than 3 and not more than 6 strokes.

ellenja@sph.com.sg