Front doors, walls of 3 homes set on fire in loanshark harassment case; suspect arrested
Burn marks and loanshark-related graffiti are seen on a wall outside a Tampines Street 71 flat. (Photo: Singapore Police Force)
SINGAPORE: A 23-year-old man was arrested on Monday (Mar 4) for his alleged involvement in a loanshark harassment case that saw fires started outside three homes.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said it was alerted on Monday to loanshark harassment incidents at three residential units along Yishun Avenue 6, Tampines Street 41 and Tampines Street 71.
The front doors and walls of the units had been set on fire, while loanshark-related graffiti was also scribbled on the walls beside the units.
With the aid of police camera images, officers arrested the man as he was trying to leave Tampines Street 71, within four hours of his first alleged harassment act.
"Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had allegedly intended to continue committing similar loanshark harassment if the police had not detained him," said SPF in a news release on Tuesday.
A bottle of petrol, a red marker, a lighter, a black motorcycle helmet, a black jacket, a red neck gaiter and a mobile phone were seized as case exhibits, police added.
The man will be charged in court on Wednesday with offences under the Moneylenders Act 2008.
For first-time offenders, a loanshark harassment offence carries a fine of between S$5,000 and S$50,000, up to five years' jail and up to six strokes of the cane.
Repeat offenders face a fine of between S$6,000 and S$60,000, between two and nine years in prison and five to 10 strokes of the cane.
"The police have zero tolerance for loanshark harassment activities," said SPF.
"Those who deliberately vandalise properties (and) cause annoyance and disruption to public safety and security will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law."
SPF advised members of the public to stay away from loansharks and not to work with or assist them in any way.
