Loansharking-related arrests

QX179R SG

Police arrest loanshark runner

Police have arrested a 29-year old man in Redhill Close for alleged loan shark harassment activities.
Earlier this month, the authorities had received several reports of harassment cases in the area.

That's because residents had found walls in the estate defaced with messages and splashed with paint.

In a move to address the problem, officers from Clementi Police Division intensified their patrols and conducted numerous stake-outs in the vicinity.

Their efforts paid off when they spotted the suspect behaving suspiciously outside a flat yesterday afternoon.

But he fled when they wanted to conduct a check on him.

The officers collared the suspect after a short chase and he was found with items including a can of paint as well as several marker pens in his possession.

The suspect will be charged with loan shark harassment in court tomorrow.

If convicted, first-time offenders may be jailed up to three years, fined a maximum of $40,000 or both.

They are also liable for caning if any damage was caused to property or harm caused to any person.

--938Live

QX179R SG

14 to be charged with helping in loanshark activities

SINGAPORE: 14 Singaporeans will face the court on Tuesday for helping in loansharking activities. The 11 men and three women are aged between 23 and 58.

Police investigations revealed that some of them had opened bank accounts and subsequently given their ATM (Automated Teller Machine) cards and PIN (Personal Identification Number) numbers to loansharking syndicates.

These accounts were then used by the syndicates for illegal money-lending activities. The rest of the subjects will be charged with collecting the ATM cards or conducting ATM transactions on behalf of the loansharks.

The Moneylenders Act 2008 states that when a bank account or ATM card is used to facilitate the running of an illegal money-lending business, the owner of the account and card is presumed to have assisted in the unlicensed business until proven otherwise.

First-time offenders found guilty of facilitating unlicensed money-lending acts may be fined up to S$200,000, or jailed a maximum of two years, or both.

Repeat offenders face a fine of up to S$200,000 and a mandatory jail term of up to five years.

- CNA/ir

QX179R SG

Loanshark detained by public

Police have arrested a 44-year-old man for suspected involvement in loansharking activities.

Members of the public saw him behaving suspiciously at a HDB block at Yishun Ring Road on Tuesday.

They detained him when he tried to flee and handed him over to the Police.

A search by the police uncovered debtors’ records and marker pens in the vehicle driven by the suspect.

Initial investigations revealed that he was a debtor-turned-runner who had carried out several harassment acts.

The suspect will be charged in Court tomorrow (3/12) for loanshark harassment.

--938Live

QX179R SG

Two arrested for loansharking activities

Police have arrested two youths, aged 15, for suspected involvement in loansharking activities, with the help of an alert taxi driver.

The cabby had picked the youths up at about 4.30pm on Tuesday in Hougang.

They directed him to Pandan Gardens, where one of them alighted, while the other remained in the taxi.

After a short while, the youth returned and the taxi driver was re-directed to Hougang Street 51.

The taxi driver dropped one of them off at Hougang Street 51, before proceeding to Hougang Avenue 4 with the other.

The remaining youth then bolted without paying the cab fare but was detained by the taxi driver with the help of a passerby.

When the cabby noticed black stains which looked like paint on the youth's hands, he called the police.

Police found a red marker pen on him.

His accomplice was arrested later that day at his home.

The two youths are believed to be involved in harassment activities for a loanshark syndicate.

Investigations are still ongoing.

--938Live

QX179R SG

Eight people arrested for loansharking activities

SINGAPORE: Police have arrested eight people for suspected involvement in loansharking activities. The seven men and one woman arrested were between 19 and 47 years old.

They were caught in simultaneous raids at Ang Mo Kio, Clementi, Rivervale, Tampines and Toa Payoh on Monday.

Initial investigations revealed that the suspects had helped to open bank accounts and had given away their Automated Teller Machine cards and personal identification numbers to the loansharks.

Four of the suspects are also believed to be existing debtors. At least five of them are believed to have opened more than one bank account for the loansharks.

Investigations are still in progress.

- CNA/so

QX179R SG

Three men, one woman arrested for loansharking activities

Three men and one woman have been arrested for loansharking activities.

They are believed to be members of a syndicate operating locally and responsible for more than 200 cases of loanshark-related harassment island-wide.

The suspects caught yesterday are between 24 and 34 years old.

During the operation, the Police raided several locations and seized cash amounting to about $170,000 and other items.

Initial investigations show that the syndicate would carry out transactions by electronic funds via ATM.

Police say the syndicate would harass those who did not pay up, by splashing paint and scribbling repayment notes on the walls.

First-time offenders found guilty of operating or assisting in an unlicensed moneylending business may be fined up to $200,000 and jailed up to 2 years, or both.

Persons who cause damage to properties or harm to persons in the course of committing loanshark-related harassment are also liable for caning.

--938Live

QX179R SG

Yishun residents nab suspected loan shark runner

SINGAPORE: Police have nabbed a man suspected of being involved in loan shark harassment with the help of two vigilant members of the public.

The 34-year-old was spotted by an alert resident living in Yishun at about 7.50pm on Monday.

The resident had heard some noises outside his flat. Upon checking, he saw the suspect walking along the corridor.

The resident also noticed that the door of one of his neighbours had been splashed with paint.

He called out to the suspect who started running. He gave chase and managed to detain the suspect after a short scuffle with the help of another member of the public.

The police seized a marker pen, some containers of paint, a notebook and a mobile phone containing addresses which are believed to belong to debtors, from the suspect.

The man is believed to be involved in a series of loan shark harassment acts in the Ang Mo Kio and Yishun estates.

If convicted, he could be fined up to S$40,000, jailed up to three years and caned.

- CNA/vm

QX179R SG

Twenty arrested in connection with loansharking activities

Police have arrested 20 people, mostly men, for assisting in the business of unlicensed moneylenders.

They were arrested in raids conducted in Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Hougang and Robinson Road.

Preliminary investigations showed that the 20 suspects had opened bank accounts and gave away their Automated Teller Machine cards and Personal Identification Number to loansharking syndicates for loansharking activities.

Seventeen of them are also believed to be debtors themselves.

All the bank accounts have been seized and investigations are in progress.

Under the Moneylenders Act, when a bank account or ATM card of any person is proven to have been used to facilitate the business of an unlicensed moneylender, that person is presumed until the contrary is proven, to have assisted in the business.

First-time offenders found guilty of such an offence may be fined up to $200,000 or jailed a maximum of two years or both.

Repeat offenders face a fine of up to $200,000 and a mandatory jail term of up to five years.

--938Live

QX179R SG

Police nab man suspected for involvement in loansharking activities

SINGAPORE: Police have nabbed a 40-year-old man for suspected involvement in loansharking activities around Ang Mo Kio Central.

Officers moved in on the suspect at about 10 pm on Wednesday.

He's believed to have helped loan sharks by verifying ATM transaction receipts of debtors.

Also seized were an ATM card and a mobile phone containing debtors' addresses.

If found guilty, the suspect could be fined up to S$200,000 and jailed up to two years.

- CNA/vm

QX179R SG

20 arrested for suspected loansharking activities in islandwide operation

SINGAPORE: 20 people were arrested for suspected involvement in loansharking activities in an islandwide operation on April 1.

During the 15-hour operation, police raided various premises in Ho Ching Road, Bangkit Road, Bedok Reservoir, Jurong West, Ang Mo Kio, Yishun and Sengkang.

Loansharking-related paraphernalia such as Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, bank statements and bank slips were seized.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are believed to have handed over their bank accounts, ATM cards and Personal Identification Number to unlicensed moneylending syndicates in return for monetary gains.

Ten of the suspects are believed to be debtors-turned-runners, and at least 14 of them had opened more than one bank account for these syndicates.

All the bank accounts have since been frozen and police investigations are still on-going.

Under the amended Moneylenders' Act, first-time offenders found guilty of assisting an unlicensed moneylender to carry out his business face heavier penalties.

They could be fined at least S$30,000 and get up to four years in jail.

They also face caning of up to six strokes.

- CNA/vm

QX179R SG

Police arrest 36 in loansharking crackdown

Police arrested 30 men and 6 women aged between 14 and 63 years old yesterday for loansharking activities.

In a 14-hour islandwide crackdown, simultaneous raids were carried out at Boon Lay, Jurong East, Woodlands, Yishun, Ang Mo Kio, Geylang Bahru, Bedok, Tampines and Changi.

The operation involved officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division and the Specialised Crime Investigation Branch of CID against loansharking activities.

Preliminary investigations showed that the 36 suspects had opened bank accounts and given away their Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards with Personal Identification Number (PIN) to the loansharks for their unlicensed moneylending activities.

Investigations are still going on.

-- 938Live

QX179R SG

3 youths arrested for loanshark harassment

Three youths between the ages of 17 and 18 were arrested for suspected loanshark harassment, following a tip-off from the public.

This comes after several cases of loanshark harassment had been reported in the Canberra estate in Sembawang between March and April this year.

Tactics employed include splashing of paint and scrawling of loanshark-related graffiti on walls.

This morning at about 1.45am, a resident in the area noticed a suspicious character walking along the common corridor.

When he opened his door to check, the resident saw another unfamiliar character coming down the stairs.

Upon seeing the resident, the subject turned away and walked towards the lift area.

The resident then called the police, who found two sets of loanshark-related graffiti written using blue markers.

Police then patrolled the area, where they spotted three youths, two of whom fitted the description provided by the resident.

Several blue markers, cans of paint and handphones containing debtors' records were found in their possession.

All three suspects will be charged in court tomorrow (10 May) for loanshark harassment.

If found guilty, first time offenders may be jailed up to five years, fined up to $50,000, and be liable for six strokes of the cane.

-- 938Live

QX179R SG

Police arrest 30 loansharks

POLICE have arrested 27 men and three women in an islandwide operation from Thursday to Friday for suspected involvement in loansharking activities.

All except one of them are believed to have allowed their bank accounts to be used for loansharking activities while one was arrested for loanshark harassment at Hougang public housing estate, said police.

During the 18-hour islandwide operation, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division conducted simultaneous raids at Jurong, Clementi, Commonwealth, Telok Blangah, Woodlands, Ang Mo Kio, Shunfu Road, Hougang, Punggol, Bedok and Tampines.

Preliminary investigation revealed that 29 of the suspects had facilitated the unlicensed moneylending business of the loansharking syndicates by opening bank accounts and giving away their Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards with their Personal Identification Number (PIN) to the loansharks.

At least 20 of them are said to be debtors or guarantors while five of them had opened more than one bank account for the loansharks. One of the suspects was also found to have committed several counts of loanshark harassment by splashing paint and scrawling loanshark graffiti at Hougang public housing estate. Several ATM cards and bank account passbooks were seized as case exhibits. All the bank accounts had been frozen. Investigations are in progress.

-- ST

QX179R SG

Four to be charged for loansharking activities

Police have arrested two men and two women for suspected involvement in loansharking activities.

The four were picked up in connection with four separate cases.

One of the two women is believed to be a debtor turned runner.

She was arrested in Sembawang in the early hours of yesterday morning.

A marker pen, bottle of paint, a piece of paper and mobile phone with several bank account numbers and suspected debtors' addresses were seized from the subject.

All four suspects will be charged in Court today for offences under the Moneylenders Act.

-- 938Live

QX179R SG

2 loanshark runners arrested

TWO men have been arrested for suspected involvement in loansharking activities in two separate cases.

While patrolling along Yishun Street 71 last Saturday, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division spotted a man behaving suspiciously.

On checking, they found several bank transaction receipts on him which were believed to be linked to loansharking activities. The 33 year-old suspect was arrested.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is a debtor-turned-runner and had assisted the loansharks to verify the particulars of potential borrowers.

In the second incident, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division arrested a 20 year-old men in an operation conducted in Ang Mo Kio Central on Tuesday.

Several marker pens, ATM cards, one handphone and debtors' records were seized from him. The suspect is said to be a debtor-turned runner and was involved in at least 12 cases of harassment in housing estates.

Investigations against the first suspect are still ongoing. The second man will be charged in Court on Wednesday.

-- ST

QX179R SG

Loanshark runner arrested

A 25 YEAR-OLD man was arrested in connection with unlicensed moneylending activities on Tuesday.

Officers from Tanglin Police Division were mounting an ambush at Toa Payoh when they spotted a man behaving suspiciously, a police statement said.

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 Wednesday.

-- ST

QX179R SG

Viet loanshark runner held

A 31-YEAR-OLD Vietnamese man has been arrested for suspected involvement in loansharking activities.

On Wednesday, officers from Tanglin Police Division were conducting an ambush at Bishan when they spotted a man behaving suspiciously.

Officers conducted a check on the man and found loanshark-related paraphernalia such as notes, eight cans of paint, three markers and two bicycle locks in his possession.

The man was arrested and will be charged in Court on Thursday.

-- ST

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