In an operation conducted on 24 October 2011, Police arrested five male subjects, aged between 15 and 23 years, for suspected involvement in loanshark harassment by setting fire to debtors’ houses.

Following intensive intelligence probes, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and Police Intelligence Department mounted raids at locations in Sembawang and Yishun to arrest the subjects. In the course of the operation, mobile phones, a laptop, a thumb drive, flammable liquids and containers, marker pens and clothing were seized.

The suspects are believed to be responsible for at least eight harassment cases between 11 October and 24 October at various locations island-wide, including Jurong East, Woodlands, Serangoon, Hougang and Bukit Panjang. In these cases, the front doors of the victims’ residences were set on fire.

All five suspects will be charged in Court on 25 October 2011 at 2pm under the Moneylenders Act.

Under the Moneylenders Act, persons found guilty of operating or assisting in the operating of a loansharking business may be fined not less than $30,000 and up to $300,000 with mandatory imprisonment of up to four years and shall be liable for caning of up to six strokes.  Persons found guilty of committing loanshark harassment shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $50,000, and shall also be liable to be punished with caning with not more than six strokes.

 Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Teo Chun Ching said, “Such acts that terrorise the public and blatantly challenge the authorities shall not be condoned. Other residents could have been put in danger by these acts as well. Police are determined to leave no stone unturned in bringing all such perpetrators to justice.”