Singapore — A video of two men scribbling on the outside walls of a unit at Hougang before setting the door on fire is circulating online.
An online netizen Dzar Ismail took to Facebook to share a video of the incident, adding the caption (translated from Malay) “Imagine if there was a little boy in the house. So uncivilised.”
The video showed a man wearing a black hoodie writing “O$P$” on the wall.
He also wrote a name, number and “WhatsApp” underneath.
Another clip showed a man in a blue shirt splashing gasoline all over the alleged loanee’s front door.
Once the bottle was empty, the man then set the door on fire before the duo fled the scene.
The police have confirmed that the men have been arrested for suspected loanshark harassment.
Carik ah sial dekni siapa. Bayangkan kalau ada budak kecik dalam rumah tuh. Kurang ajar. Siapa ada leads boleh DM.
***Update***
The Police are aware of a video being circulated that depicts a case of loanshark harassment where the door of a residential unit was set on fire, with writings scribbled on the walls beside it.
The incident in the video is linked to a loanshark harassment case that happened on 20 September 2021. The Police had arrested and charged two men on 25 September 2021 for their suspected involvement in a series of loanshark harassment cases, including the case as depicted.
Please refer to the Police News Release via the following URL for more information.
https://www.police.gov.sg/media-room/news/20210925_two_men_arr_for_loanshark_harassment
Posted by Dzar Ismail on Wednesday, November 17, 2021
In a Facebook post on Wednesday (Nov 17), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said it was aware of a video circulating online depicting a case of loanshark harassment.
“The incident in the video is linked to a loanshark harassment case which happened on Sept 20, 2021,” said SPF.
Authorities were alerted to two cases of harassment along Hougang Ave 5 and Chai Chee Road, where the doors of the residential units were set on fire, with writings found on the walls beside one of the units.
Through investigations and with the aid of images from CCTV and police cameras, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, Ang Mo Kio Police Division and Bedok Police Division established the identities of the two men, aged 20 and 21.
They were arrested in the vicinity of Telok Blangah and Sembawang Way, respectively, on Sept 24.
Drug paraphernalia was also found and seized from both men during the operation, noted SPF.
The two men were charged in court on Sept 25 under the Moneylenders Act.
For loanshark harassment, first-time offenders can be fined from S$5,000 to S$50,000, imprisoned for up to five years and given up to six strokes of the cane.
“The Police have zero tolerance towards loanshark harassment activities. Those who deliberately vandalise properties, cause annoyance to the public or disrupt public safety, peace, and security, will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law,” said SPF.
“Members of the public are advised to stay away from loansharks and not to work with or assist them in any way,” said SPF.
The public can call the Police at ‘999’ or the X-Ah Long hotline at 1800-924-5664 if they suspect or know of anyone who could be involved in illegal loansharking activities. /TISG
Read related: Bogus delivery order for a whole roast pig likely bid by loan shark to harass borrower
Bogus delivery order for a whole roast pig likely bid by loan shark to harass borrower