Police have arrested a 25 year-old man in connection with unlicensed moneylending activities on 20 July 2010.

On 20 July 2010 at about 12.05 am, officers from Tanglin Police Division were mounting an ambush at Blk 112 Toa Payoh Lorong 1 when they spotted a man behaving suspiciously. The officers conducted a check on him and found some loanshark-related paraphernalia such as a bank book, several ATM cards with bank slips and two markers. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is a debtor-turned-runner and was believed to be involved in loansharking activities.

The suspect will be charged in Court on 21 July 2010 for offences under the Moneylenders Act.

First-time offender 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 five years, and 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 that 6 strokes.

Commander of Tanglin Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Koh Yak Leng, commended his officers for their vigilance. He also said that Police will continue to clamp down on such illegal activities and take stern action against those involved.