Man, 36, arrested within 3 hours after police alerted to red paint being splashed at Clementi flat

The police have arrested a 36-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a case of loanshark harassment.

The police were alerted to a case of loanshark harassment at a Clementi Avenue 3 flat on Jun. 14 at about 4:10am.

The main gate of a residential unit had been splashed with red paint.

The police established the identity of the man and arrested him within three hours of the report with the aid of images from surveillance camera.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is believed to be involved in several other cases of loanshark harassment.

One marker, four cans of red paint, and other loanshark-related paraphernalia were seized as case exhibits.

The man will be charged in court on Jun. 15 under the Moneylenders Act 2008.

For first-time offenders, the offence of loanshark harassment carries a fine of between S$5,000 and S$50,000, imprisonment of up to five years, and caning of up to six strokes.

The police said they have zero tolerance for loanshark harassment activities.

Those who deliberately vandalise properties, cause annoyance, or disrupt public safety, peace and security will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law, the police added.