Loansharking-related arrests
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wow... what could people borrow money for other than gambling?
time to wake up... gambling is for the weak -
4 men aged between 15 and 31 caught for loansharking activities
SINGAPORE: Continuous efforts by the Police to stamp out loansharking activities have led to the arrest of four men aged between 15 and 31 years old in two separate cases.
In the first case, a 31-year-old man was arrested on Monday at about 4pm in the vicinity of Yishun Street 81 for suspected involvement in loansharking activities.
This, after reports of loanshark harassment lodged in June this year.
Preliminary investigations revealed that he had assisted a loanshark by verifying ATM payments made by debtors.
In the second case, Police arrested three men aged between 15 and 30 on Tuesday for their suspected involvement in such activities.
Loanshark-related graffiti on walls was reported in the vicinity of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4.
When officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division responded swiftly and spotted three men along Ang Mio Kio Street 61, they found mobile phones with suspected debtors' records and items used in loanshark harassment.
These include spray paint, marker pens and rubber gloves.
Two men aged 20 and 30 will be charged in Court on Wednesday while Police said the remaining two suspects will be released on bail, pending further investigations.- CNA/vm
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Man arrested for suspected involvement in loanshark harassment cases
SINGAPORE: A 35-year-old man was arrested Tuesday morning for suspected involvement in a series of loanshark harassment cases. He was arrested at Lorong 1 Toa Payoh at about 10.30am.
Paraphernalia related to loanshark harassment like handphones and notebooks with suspected debtors' records were seized from him.
From preliminary investigations, the police believe the man is a debtor himself, and he was taking part in loanshark harassment activities to pay off his debts.
The man will be charged in court on Wednesday for loanshark harassment under the Moneylenders Act 2008.
First-time offenders guilty of loanshark harassment may be fined up to S$40,000 or face up to three years' jail, or both.
Offenders are also liable for caning should any damage to property or harm to persons were caused during the harassment acts.
- CNA/yt
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According to TS report here,the number of Ah Long and their runners arrested are definitely more than one platoon within 3 months.Thanks to our Police's effort.
Look like Changi prison occupancy rate is filling up fast,much faster than our local hotels occupancy rate!
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Four men arrested for loansharking activities
Four men, aged between 20 and 41, have been arrested for suspected involvement in four separate loansharking cases.
The four cases occurred around Hougang Avenue 8, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, Bedok Reservoir Road and Marsiling Lane.
They were caught either during anti-loansharking operations or routine patrols.
All four suspects will be charged in court tomorrow (14 August) under the Moneylenders' Act.
First-time offenders found guilty of assisting an unlicensed moneylender to carry out his business could be fined not less than 20,000 dollars and not more than 200,000 dollars.
They could also be imprisoned for a term not exceeding 2 years or both.
--938Live
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Two arrested for suspected involvement in loansharking activities
SINGAPORE : Police have arrested two men for suspected involvement in loansharking activities.
Officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division noticed a man coming out of his vehicle and behaving suspiciously on Friday.
They checked the man and his vehicle and found several mobile phones with SMS entries related to loansharking activities, a pouch containing several ATM cards, and cash of about S$3,800 in his vehicle.
Police said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is believed to be a debtor-turned-runner who had assisted the loansharks to carry out bank transfers and extend loans to prospective debtors.
Moments later, the officers saw another man arriving in another vehicle at the same location.
Police observed that the second man was nervous when he saw them.
They found several mobile phones with suspected debtors' records and an ATM card on him.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the second suspect had assisted the loansharks to monitor and remind debtors of their loan repayments.
Both suspects will be charged with assisting an unlicensed moneylender to carry out his business under the Moneylenders' Act 2008.
- CNA /ls
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Suspect involved in loansharking activities arrested
Police have arrested a 26-year-old man for suspected involvement in loansharking activities, following a tip-off from a member of the public.
He was spotted behaving suspiciously at Hougang Street 51 last Saturday.
Officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division who conducted a check on him and his vehicle parked nearby, found cans of paint, slips of paper containing suspected debtors' records, gloves and crayons.
The suspect was believed to be involved in loanshark harassment and had also assisted the loanshark by conducting checks at debtors' units to verify that harassment had been carried out by other runners.
He has been released on bail, pending further investigations.First-time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment may be fined up to $40,000 or imprisoned up to 3 years or both.
In addition, caning will be imposed on those who cause damage to property or harm to others while committing acts of loanshark harassment.
First-time offenders found guilty of assisting an unlicensed moneylender could be fined not less than $20,000 and not more than $200,000 or imprisoned for a term not exceeding 2 years or both.
--938Live
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Two loanshark runners arrested
Two youths believed to be involved in loanshark harassment cases were arrested this morning.
At about 12.30am, the police were informed that a loanshark runner had been detained by a member of the public.
A resident was on his way home at Rivervale Drive when he spotted two men scrawling loanshark-related graffiti on the electrical rise door outside a unit.
Shortly after, the two men were seen running down the stairs.
The resident gave chase and managed to detain one culprit, while the other escaped.
The police arrived shortly thereafter and arrested the loanshark runner, and also seized a handphone containing debtors' records.
Three hours later, the police were able to arrest the second suspect at Kallang MRT station.
The two suspects, aged 20 and 21 years old, will be charged in court tomorrow for loanshark harassment.
If convicted, they face a maximum fine of $40,000, jail term of three years, or both.
The suspects may also be caned if in the course of committing the offence, damaged was caused to any property or person.
--938Live
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Public tip-off leads to the arrest of two for loansharking activities
A public tip-off led to the arrest of two Chinese men for suspected involvement in loansharking activities today (24/08).
At about 10 pm yesterday (23 August 2009), police received a call from a member of the public that two men were scribbling loanshark writings on a wall.
The men, aged 20 and 22, also splashed paint outside a flat at Hougang Street 61.
The caller noted down the vehicle number of the suspects' motorcycle and informed the police.
Subsequently, police officers arrested the duo within 12 hours of the report.
Handphones and a red-coloured marker pen were among the items seized for further investigations.
Both suspects will be charged in court tomorrow (25 August 2009) for loanshark harassment.
First-time offenders found guilty of such harassment face a fine of not less than 4,000 dollars and up to 40,000 dollars.
They can also be jailed for up to three years.
Those who cause damage to property or harm to others while committing the offences may also be caned.
--938Live
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Three arrested for loansharking activities
Police have arrested three men aged between 24 and 27 years-old for alleged involvement in loansharking activities in two separate cases.
In the first case, a 24-year-old man was arrested yesterday at about 5.15 pm in the vicinity of Yishun Central.
Police officers were conducting anti-crime patrols when they spotted the suspect behaving suspiciously.
Preliminary investigation indicated that the suspect assisted loansharks in carrying out bank transfers.
In the second case, two 27 year-old men were arrested near Hougang Avenue 10 at about 2.45 am.
Police officers recognised one of the two men as a suspect in a recent loanshark harassment case in the same area from CCTV footage.
Subsequent checks found that the pair had marker pens, cans of paint, bank transaction receipts and ATM cards in their possession.
All three suspects will be charged in court tomorrow morning for offences under the Moneylenders' Act 2008.
First-time offenders found guilty of assisting an unlicensed moneylender may be fined up to 200,000 dollars, or imprisoned for up to two years, or both.
First-time offenders convicted of loanshark harassment may be fined up to 40,000 dollars or jailed for up to three years, or to both.
Caning will be imposed on those who cause damage to property or harm to others while committing the offences.
--938Live
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Tenth Loanshark Syndicate busted this year
Police have busted a tenth loanshark syndicate this year.
It's believed to be behind more than 130 cases of loanshark harassment islandwide.
Five suspected members, all men, aged 23 to 36 were arrested yesterday in a raid of areas like Tampines and Upper Bukit Timah.
Items including mobile phones, computers, ATM cards and cash of about $8,000 dollars were also seized.
Preliminary investigations show the syndicate had also used electronic means to issue loans and collect repayments from debtors.
Investigations are ongoing.
Separately, police have also arrested three Indian men aged 20 to 22 for their suspected involvement in loanshark harassment.
On Friday midnight, a member of the public called the police after spotting a man splashing paint on a unit at Sembawang Drive.
The man then drove off before the police arrived.
But the member of public had taken down the culprit's vehicle number.
Acting on this, Police identified the three suspects and arrested them later in the same day.
They're believed to be involved in cases of loanshark harassment in Tampines, Sembawang and Yishun.
--938Live
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Originally posted by Chew Bakar:
Wonder why suddenly the surge in arresting the loan sharks.
Finance institutions no business????
Or maybe someone finally getting down to running around and doing some work liao. XD
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wow, look like alot of loan shark being arrested this year.
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Can have shark fin feast le. XD
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3 men nabbed for loansharking activities
SINGAPORE: Police have nabbed two men for suspected involvement in loansharking activities. The arrest happened on Monday at about 10.20pm along Yishun Avenue 1.
Officers had noticed the suspects behaving suspiciously while on an anti-crime patrol.
Upon checking, several handphones suspected of containing loansharking-related messages and markers were found in their possession.
It is believed the men, aged 19 and 20, had helped loansharks to issue debtor notes for loan repayments.
Both suspects will be charged in court on Wednesday. If convicted, they could be fined up to S$200,000 and jailed for up to two years.
Separately, a debtor turned runner for loansharks has also been arrested. The 36-year-old suspect was nabbed on Tuesday at about 11am in the vicinity of Jurong East Street 13.
This came in the wake of investigations into several reports of loanshark harassment in the Teban Garden area.
Loansharking-related paraphernalia including mobile phones, suspected debtors' records, ATM cards, cash of about S$500 and several bank transaction receipts were seized from the suspect.
- CNA/vm
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Debtor-turned runner arrested
Police have arrested a 26-year-old debtor-turned-runner yesterday for loanshark harassment.
They were informed of a case of loanshark harassment in the vicinity of Hougang Avenue 7 at about 7.50am on Saturday.
Upon a search, police found paraphernalia related to loanshark harassement such as a bicycle chain lock, suspected debtors' records and marker pens in the man's posession.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect is believed to be a debtor-turned-runner who had assisted the loansharks to harass other debtors to pay off his debts.
The suspect will be charged in court on Monday for loanshark harassment under the Moneylenders' Act 2008.
First-time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment may be fined up to 40,000 dollars or jailed for up to 3 years, or both.
Caning may be imposed on those who cause damage to property or harm to others while committing acts of loanshark harassment.
--938Live
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2 men arrested for involvement in recruitment of loanshark runners
SINGAPORE: Police arrested two men, aged 29 and 31, on Monday for suspected involvement in loan-sharking activities and in recruiting loanshark runners for an unlicensed money-lending syndicate.
The arrests came as follow up to a case of loanshark harassment at Hougang Ave 7 on September 12. As a result, one suspect was caught in Tampines and the other in Bedok.
Items used like permanent markers, masks, debtor's notes and mobile phones were seized.
The suspects will be charged in court on Thursday and first-time offenders found guilty of assisting in the business of an unlicensed moneylender may be fined up to S$200,000 or imprisoned up to two years or both.
First-time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment may be fined up to S$40,000 or imprisonment up to three years or both.
In addition, offenders will be caned if damage to property or harm to others was caused in the course of committing the offence.- CNA/vm
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8 people arrested by police in connection with a suspected loanshark syndicate
SINGAPORE: Eight people, including three women were arrested by police in connection with a suspected loanshark syndicate.
The suspected head of the syndicate was also arrested in the operation.
The arrests were made after intensive probes by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and the Police Intelligence Department.
Police carried out raids at several locations including Woodlands, Depot Road, Clementi, Beo Crescent and Telok Blangah.
They also seized cash amounting to some S$16,000, mobile phones, ATM cards, suspected debtor records, and data storage devices including thumb-drives, laptops and computers.
The eight suspects, aged between 22 and 34 years old, are believed to have used electronic fund transfers in the course of their business and conducted harassment in connection with debtors' loans.
Assistant Director of the Specialised Crime Division CID (Covering), DSP Loh Kah Wai, said: "Even where loansharking syndicate members are not directly involved in harassment, they are not absolved of responsibility. From the operators who employ runners to harass debtors to the assistants who check units for harassment and issue loans, all have a role to play in this complex network and are responsible for causing anguish to innocent victims. Police will spare no effort in bringing such syndicates and those involved to task."
First-time offenders found guilty of operating a business as an unlicensed moneylender may be fined up to S$200,000 or jailed up to two years, or both.
First-time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment may be fined up to S$40,000 or jailed up to three years or both.
Offenders will be liable for caning where harm to persons or damage to property is caused during the course of committing the acts of harassment.- CNA/vm
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Police nab two suspects for loansharking activities
SINGAPORE : Police have nabbed a 42-year-old man for suspected involvement in loansharking activities.
The arrest was made at about 10am on Thursday in the vicinity of Jurong West Central.
The suspect is believed to be a debtor turned runner who worked for several loansharks by helping them to collect loan repayments.
Separately, a 26-year-old man was nabbed at about 6pm on Wednesday on suspicion of involvement in loanshark harassment.
This follows a case of harassment reported at Tampines Street 22 last month.
Investigations led officers to the suspect, who was arrested at Telok Blangah Drive.- CNA/ms
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Police nab three suspected loanshark runners
SINGAPORE : Police have nabbed three men for suspected involvement in loansharking activities.
The suspects, aged between 24 and 29, were arrested in two separate cases.
The first case happened on Wednesday at about 12.30pm.
Officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division arrested a 25-year-old man at Lorong Lew Lian after follow-up investigations in relation to an earlier loanshark harassment case. A mobile phone, a crayon and a bank transaction slip were seized.
Later in the day at about 5.00pm, officers moved in on a man who was spotted committing loanshark harassment in the vicinity of Hougang Ave 8. A mobile phone and some debtors' records were seized from the suspect.
Further investigations led to the arrest of his accomplice on Thursday morning at Hougang Street 61.
Police said first-time offenders found guilty of assisting in the business of an unlicensed moneylender may be fined up to S$200,000, or jailed up to two years, or both.
First-time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment may be fined up to S$40,000, or imprisoned up to three years, or both.
In addition, offenders will be caned if damage to property or harm to others was caused in the course of committing loanshark harassment.
Repeat offenders may face a fine of up to S$40,000 and imprisonment of up to six years, including caning of up to 18 strokes, if damage was caused to any property or if hurt was caused to another person.- CNA /ls
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136 youths arrested for loanshark-related activities
SINGAPORE : The Minister for Education, Ng Eng Hen, said 136 youths were arrested for loanshark-related harassment activities between October last year and September this year. Almost half were students.
Dr Ng shared the statistic in a written reply to a parliamentary question from MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Lee Bee Wah.
He said the reasons for school children being lured into working for such activities are complex.
Dr Ng said parents, as primary caregivers, must take responsibility to monitor the after-school activities of their children and who they are interacting with so as to provide timely guidance.
He said schools can play a complementary reinforcing role. For example, they can collaborate with relevant agencies or authorities to guide students back on the right track.
- CNA /ls
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Loanshark runner arrested with public help
Police have arrested a 25-year-old loanshark runner with the help of two members of the public.
The two residents, living in the vicinity of Ang Mo Kio Street 31, were alerted by the continuous barking of their dog.
When they went outside their home to check, a man was loitering suspiciously along the corridor.
The man quickly walked away when he noticed the two residents.
The two caught up with the man and detained him.
When Police checked the man, he was found to be carrying a bottle of green paint, crayons, a handphone and notebook with suspected debtors' records.
Police also found some fresh loanshark-related graffiti on the walls.
Preliminary investigations found that he had committed several loanshark harassment acts in the Ang Mo Kio area.
The 25 year-old suspect will be charged in Court tomorrow.
If found guilty, first time offenders could face a maximum fine of $40,000 and imprisoned for 3 years.
He may also be caned if in the course of committing the offence, damage was caused to any property or he had hurt someone.--938Live
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Loanshark runner arrested
Police arrested a 53-year-old man early this morning for suspected involvement in loanshark activities.
The man was seen behaving suspiciously along a corridor in a HDB block at Edgedale Plains.
He was also seen slotting something into a residential unit.
Police arrested the man after he was found to be in possession of pieces of papers containing reminders to debtors on repayment.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect was a debtor-turned-runner.
The suspect will be charged tomorrow with assisting an unlicensed moneylender under the Moneylenders Act 2008.
He can be fined up to $200,000, jailed for up to 2 years or both.--938Live
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43-year-old man arrested for suspected loansharking activities
SINGAPORE: Police have arrested a 43-year-old man for suspected involvement in loansharking activities.
The suspect was caught during an anti-loansharking operation around Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 on Monday.
Police had spotted the man loitering suspiciously along a common corridor. They approached him and found several ATM cards, ATM slips and mobile phones believed to contain debtors' addresses in his possession.
Initial investigations revealed that the suspect was a debtor-turned-runner. He had assisted a loanshark by checking if the debtors were at home.
The man will be charged in court on Wednesday with assisting in an unlicensed moneylender in his business, under the Moneylenders Act 2008.
If he is found to be a first-time offender, he can be fined up to S$200,000 or jailed for up to two years, or both.
- CNA/sc -
15 Singaporeans to be charged with assisting in loanshark activities
SINGAPORE: Fifteen Singaporeans, aged between 18 and 57, will be charged in Court on Friday with assisting in the business of an unlicensed moneylender.
Police investigations revealed that the suspects had opened bank accounts and given their ATM cards and PIN numbers to loanshark syndicates - for monetary gains and to avoid harassment.
The bank accounts were then used by the syndicates for loanshark activities.
The accounts of the suspects have now been frozen pending investigations.
If found guilty, the suspects may be fined up to S$200,000, and jailed up to two years for a first-time offence or up to five years for a repeated offence.
- CNA/sc