Police have arrested three men and four women, aged between 16 and 34, for their suspected involvement in loanshark harassment.

Between May and August 2010, there was a spate of loanshark harassments reported in Yishun, Hougang and Ang Mo Kio. Following the reports, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division analyzed the crime trend and conducted extensive follow-up investigations.

On 3 September 2010 between 9.20 am and 5.40 pm, seven suspects were arrested at Boon Lay, Fernvale, Toa Payoh, Serangoon Central, Clementi, Woodlands and Marine Terrace in an islandwide operation. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were responsible for a spate of loanshark harassments islandwide. Their modus operandi included sending debtors’ notes with threatening and offensive contents to the debtors’ letter-boxes, damaging the keyholes of letter-boxes with toothpicks and glue, and splashing paint at debtors’ units.

Five of the suspects will be charged in Court on 4 September 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. Investigations against the other 2 suspects are on-going.

Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Hsu Sin Yun, commended his officers for their efforts in the fight against loansharks. He said, "The Police take a serious view against loanshark harassment and will not hesitate to take tough action against those involved in such illicit activities."