Sembawang unit smeared with red paint, man arrested for harassment by loan sharks

A 31-year-old man was arrested after the main gate of a residential unit on Sembawang Drive was splashed with red paint.

Police said they were informed of the case of harassment by loan sharks on October 12 at around 12.05pm.

Through follow-up investigation and using police body camera footage, officers from the Woodlands Police Division and the Police Operations Command Center identified the man and arrested him.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the man is believed to be involved in two other similar cases of loan shark harassment along Tampines Street 33 and Jurong East.

The man will be charged in court on October 16 under the Moneylenders Act 2008.

For first-time offenders, the offense of loan harassment carries a fine of between $5,000 and $50,000, with up to five years in prison and up to six strokes of the cane.

The police said it has zero tolerance for loan harassment, adding: “Those who deliberately destroy property, cause annoyance and disruption to public safety and security will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law.”

The public is advised to stay away from loan sharks and not cooperate with or assist them in any way. Call the police on ‘999’ if they suspect or know of anyone who may be involved in lending.