Police have arrested two men, aged 44 and 56, for suspected involvement in two separate cases of loanshark harassment with the assistance of public-spirited residents.

In the first case which occurred on 25 August 2010 at about 9.00 pm , a 53 year-old resident was on his way home at Ang Mo Kio Street 52 when he spotted some fresh paint on his neighbour's door. At the same time, he spotted an unfamiliar person with a sling bag leaving the scene. Suspecting that something was amiss, the said resident alerted his 20 year-old son who joined his father to detain the suspect at the void deck. Officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division were alerted to the case and responded to the scene promptly. Upon checking on the suspect, the officers found loanshark-related paraphernalia such as a can of red spray paint, a marker, a handphone and suspected debtors' records in his possession. Upon further questioning, the 44- year-old suspect was placed under arrest for suspected involvement in loanshark harassment. Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect is believed to be a debtor-turned-runner and had committed loanshark harassment by spraying paint and scrawling loanshark-related graffiti in the Ang Mo Kio area.

In a separate case on 26 August 2010 at about 3.45am, a 19 year-old resident was at home when he detected a strong smell of paint coming from outside his unit and decided to conduct a check. When he opened his door, he discovered black paint and some fresh loanshark-related graffiti on the walls near his unit and staircase landing. Consequently, he spotted a suspicious person running down the staircase. The said resident immediately alerted the Police and gave chase. The suspect was subsequently detained by the Police at the junction of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and 10. A check was conducted and the 56-year-old suspect was found in possession of a marker, handphones containing suspected debtors' addresses and bank transaction receipts. He was subsequently placed under arrest for suspected involvement in loanshark harassment. Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect is believed to be a debtor-turned-runner and had committed loanshark harassment by scrawling loanshark-related graffiti in the Ang Mo Kio area.

Both suspects will be charged in Court on 27 August 2010 for loanshark harassment. Under the Moneylenders Act (Revised Edition 2010), 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 5 years and mandatory caning of up to 6 strokes.

Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Division HQ, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Hsu Sin Yun commended the members of the public for their public-spiritedness and said, "These arrests are testament to the importance and effectiveness of Police-community partnership in the fight against crime."