Man arrested at road block after police find loanshark-related items on him

SINGAPORE - Police have arrested a 33-year-old man for his suspected involvement in loanshark harassment.

During a road block conducted along Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 this morning at 2.40am, police officers observed the suspect behaving suspiciously in a taxi.

A search was conducted and loanshark paraphernalia such as paint, a debtor note, gloves and a marker were found on the suspect.

Preliminary investigations revealed that he was believed to be involved in loanshark harassment at the vicinities of Serangoon Ave 2, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 and Bedok Reservoir Road by splashing paint on debtors' units and scrawling loanshark-related graffiti on the walls of HDB blocks.

The suspect will be charged in court tomorrow for loanshark harassment.

Under the Moneylenders Act, 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.

klim@sph.com.sg