Doors and walls set on fire in Yishun

[The_King]

A 23-year-old man was arrested for his suspected involvement in a case of loanshark harassment involving fire.

The police were alerted on March 4 to cases of loanshark harassment at three residential units along Yishun Avenue 6, Tampines Street 41 and Tampines Street 71, where the front doors and walls were set on fire.

The walls beside the flats were also scribbled with loanshark-related graffiti.

Through follow-up investigations and with the aid of images from police cameras, officers from Bedok Police Division, Criminal Investigation Department and Police Operations Command Centre arrested the man while he was trying to leave Tampines Street 71.

He was arrested within four hours of his first harassment act.

 

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had allegedly intended to continue committing similar loanshark harassment if the police had not detained him.

One bottle containing petrol, one red marker, one lighter, one black motorcycle helmet, one black jacket, one red neck gaiter and a mobile phone were seized as case exhibits.

The man was charged in court on March 6 with offences under the Moneylenders Act.

For first-time offenders, loanshark harassment carries a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $50,000 with imprisonment of up to five years, and caning of up to six strokes.

For repeat offenders, it carries a fine between $6,000 and $60,000, with imprisonment of not less than two years and up to nine years, and with caning of not less than five strokes and up to 10 strokes.

[coffeenut]