Police conducted another wave of island-wide operations on 28 April 2010 against unlicensed moneylenders and their runners resulting in the arrest of 23 men and four women, aged between 19 and 62 years old.

During a 24-hour island-wide operation which commenced early in the morning of 28 April 2010 and ended on 29 April 2010 at about 1.30am, officers from Jurong Police Division conducted simultaneous raids and ambushes at various locations in Jurong West, Tanglin Halt, Kim Keat, Bukit Panjang, Commonwealth, Bedok and Kallang and arrested the 27 suspects for their involvement in loansharking activities. The suspects arrested included persons who were involved as runners, harassers and recruiters for loansharking operations. During the operation, cash and paraphernalia such as ATM and credit cards, bank transaction slips, mobile phones, pens, pairs of latex gloves and note books with writings used for the illegal moneylending activities were also seized.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the 27 suspects had opened bank accounts and gave away their Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and Personal Identification Number (PIN) to loansharking syndicates to facilitate the business of unlicensed moneylending. A few of them are also believed to be debtors themselves. Investigations are still on-going.

Under the Moneylenders Act 2008, where a bank account or automated teller machine (ATM) card of any person is proved to the satisfaction of the court, to have been used to facilitate the carrying on of the business of moneylending by an unlicensed moneylender, that person is presumed until the contrary is proven, to have assisted in the carrying on of the business of an unlicensed moneylender. The 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/- and be imprisoned for a term not exceeding 4 years. First time offenders shall also be liable to be punished with caning with not more than 6 strokes. Those who are acting on behalf of an unlicensed moneylender, commit or attempt to commit any acts of harassment shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years and shall also be liable to a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $50,000 for first-time offenders.

Commander of Jurong Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Cheang Keng Keong, commended his officers for their perseverance, diligence and excellent team work leading to the arrest of the 27 suspects. He added, "We want to send out a strong signal to deter like minded persons from being involved in such illegal moneylending activities. The Police will not hesitate to take stern action against people who facilitate the business of unlicensed moneylenders, especially those who cause distress to the public with acts of harassment. The Police will continue with our efforts to clamp down on unlicensed moneylending activities in Singapore.”