In 2 separate cases this morning, Police arrested 3 persons for suspected involvement in loanshark harassment.

In the first case, at about 2.00 am on 24 March 2010, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division were conducting anti-crime rounds in the vicinity of Hougang Street 91 when they spotted a man behaving suspiciously at the void deck of one of the blocks. Upon a check, he was found in possession of loanshark harassment related paraphernalia such as black marker pens, plastic bags containing red paint, a mobile phone and a list of suspected debtors’ addresses. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is a debtor-turned-runner who had assisted loansharks to carry out acts of harassment on debtors’ units by splashing paint and scrawling loanshark-related graffiti on walls at Hougang, Ang Mo Kio, Upper Aljunied and Sin Ming housing estates.

In the second case, at about 2:10 am on 24 March 2010, following a public tip-off on a couple spotted behaving suspiciously at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division responded swiftly and spotted a 19 year-old male and 18 year-old female in the area. On seeing the police, they fled but were detained after a short chase. A sling bag containing some cans of paint, several marker pens and a bicycle cable lock was seized for investigations. Preliminary investigations revealed that both suspects were believed to be involved in loanshark harassment cases at Jurong, Choa Chu Kang, Toa Payoh and Rivervale housing estates.

All three suspects will be charged in Court on 25 March 2010 for loanshark harassment. Under the amended Moneylenders Act 2008, first time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment may be imprisoned not more than 5 years and fined between $5,000/- and $50,000/-. In addition, they are also liable to caning not more than 6 strokes.

Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Division HQ, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Hsu Sin Yun, commended the officers for their vigilance which resulted in the arrest of the suspects.