Man and woman get job through social media, nabbed for loanshark harassment in Tampines
A man and a woman, both 39, were arrested for their suspected involvement in loanshark harassment in Tampines.
The police were alerted on Feb 27 at about 5.40pm to the case at Tampines Street 22 flat, where the main gate and door were splashed with red and yellow paint.
The wall at the lift lobby near the unit was also scribbled with loanshark-related graffiti.
Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identities of the man and woman within eight hours of the incident.
A mobile phone was seized as case exhibit.
Investigations also revealed that they obtained the job through a social media platform.
The duo was to be charged in court on March 1 under the Moneylenders Act 2008.
For first-time offenders, the offence of loanshark harassment carries a fine between $5,000 and $50,000, with imprisonment of up to five years, and caning of up to six strokes.
The police said unlicensed moneylenders may recruit persons through social media and online messaging platforms to assist them to carry out loanshark-related activities with promises of quick money-making opportunities.
Person recruited are often asked to carry out the following activities:
- Locking up residences with chains or locks.
- Damaging and defacing properties by splashing paint or pasting debtor's notes.
- Making monetary transactions.
- Ceding control of bank accounts or SIM cards.
