Police arrested two men aged 22 years old for suspected involvement in loansharking activities early this morning.

Since early November 2009, several cases of loanshark harassment had been reported in the Bukit Merah View housing estate. These harassment cases usually involved paint splashed on walls and/or loanshark writings.

In response, police officers from Clementi Police Division intensified their patrols in the vicinity. Their efforts eventually paid off on 17 November 2009 at about 12.00 am , when two men were spotted behaving suspiciously in the vicinity of Bukit Merah View. The officers moved in and conducted a check on the duo. The search uncovered loansharking-related paraphernalia including some bank transaction receipts, one ATM card and cash of about $3,300/- on one of the subjects. Preliminary investigations indicated that the said subject is believed to have assisted loansharks by collecting debt repayments and arranging for other debtors to open bank accounts for loansharking activities. The second subject is believed to be aware of the first subject’s involvement in loansharking activities.

The first subject will be charged in Court on 19 November 2009 for an offence of assisting in the business of an unlicensed moneylender under the Moneylenders Act 2008. The second subject is assisting in police investigations.

First-time offenders found guilty of assisting in the business of an unlicensed moneylender may be fined up to $200,000 or imprisoned up to two years or both.

Commander of Clementi Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) of Police Ng Yeow Boon commended his officers for their vigilance which resulted in the successful arrest of the suspects.