13 suspects arrested for loansharking activities

SINGAPORE: Police have arrested 13 individuals in yet another set of operations against loansharking activities this week.

This time, 11 men and two women, aged 23 to 56, were nabbed.

Most were arrested in raids made in Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh, Bedok, Hougang, Bukit Batok and Jurong West over two days from Monday.

11 of these had opened bank accounts and given away their Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) to syndicates for use in their loansharking activities.

Another suspect is believed to have helped loanshark syndicates perform electronic funds transactions via ATMs.

Investigations against the suspects are ongoing.

The 13th suspect —— a 44—year—old—man —— was arrested at about 3am on Wednesday in the Siglap area.

Police, who were conducting a roadblock along Siglap Road, made a spot check on the suspect’s vehicle.

The officers found four ATM cards that did not belong to the suspect.

The ATM cards and a mobile phone were seized.

The suspect is believed to have helped the loansharks made electronic monetary transactions.

He will be charged in court on Thursday.

First—time offenders found guilty of helping unlicensed moneylending may be fined between S$30,000 and S$300,000.

They are also liable to be jailed for up to four years, and given up to six strokes of the cane.

In an earlier news release on Wednesday, police said six people were arrested in Yishun, Sengkang and Ang Mo Kio for suspected involvement with non—licensed moneylending activities.

— CNA/lp