Police have arrested an 18 year-old youth for suspected involvement in loanshark harassment.

On 29 August 2010 at about 12.10 am , officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division were conducting anti-crime rounds in the vicinity of Yishun Ring Road when they spotted the suspect at the 6th floor staircase landing of a HDB block where fresh loanshark-related graffiti was found. Upon further interview, the suspect was placed under arrest.

Following his arrest, the officers also found fresh paint splashed at one of the nearby units. An empty can of paint was subsequently recovered from the grass patch in front of the said block.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect had assisted loansharks to conduct acts of harassment by splashing paint and scrawling loanshark-related graffiti in the Yishun estate.

The suspect will be charged in Court on 30 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 his officers for their vigilance and efforts in the fight against loansharks.