From a young age, we have been told by our parents to steer clear from loan sharks and not to have any dealings with them as they often get involved in illegal activities in a bid to recoup money borrowed to their ‘clients’.
Unable to resist the lure of being paid a sum of cash to buy an e-bike, a Singaporean teen willingly carried out acts of vandalism, only to find himself potentially landing in jail.
15yo SG boy splashes paint after loan sharks promise to pay him RM2.7K
Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, the teen’s mother surnamed Luo (transliteration), said her son was attracted to a message posted on a e-bike channel on the Telegram app, where it said he could earn more money.
In addition, the teen was also promised a sum of S$400 (approx. RM1,390) for every house he splashed paint on. Eventually, he agreed to the offer as he was looking to purchase an e-bike which cost S$1,700 (approx. RM5,900).
Luo added that her son was an avid cycler and would cycle with his friends at night. She also revealed that he took a can of paint that was placed outside their unit.
A statement by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) later revealed that the teen splashed paint at the main door and gate of two separate flats in Woodlands Ave 6 and Yishun Ave 11.
This brought his ill-gotten gains to a total of S$800 (approx. RM2,700), an amount which Luo claimed the loan sharks never paid.
Aside from the paint, the teen also left behind threatening notes, with the note placed at the Yishun unit reading as follows:
O$P$. You better come out settle your problem, if not next time I come to burn [your house].”
Mum: ‘I was heartbroken for my son’
Luo told Shin Min Daily News that her son was arrested on Jul 18 and at the time of his arrest, she and her husband weren’t home and only found out when the police called them.
When she finally saw her son at the police station, both of them broke down in tears.
On Friday (Jul 19), I saw my son in handcuffs at court and my heart broke for him. However, I got the chance to hug him and tell him to reflect on what he had done wrong and not repeat it again.
“I also informed my son’s school about the incident in hopes that they would use it to advise other students not to do illegal activities for the sake of money,” she said.
Faces jail time and fine
According to SPF, the teen was charged under the Moneylenders Act 2008, where he faces a fine of between S$5,000 and S$50,000 (approx. RM13,700 and RM173,700), a jail term of up to five years and up to six strokes of the cane as a first-time offender.
“The Police have zero tolerance against 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,” it said.
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