Punish those who borrow from loan sharks

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http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/punish-those-who-borrow-loan-sharks-20140505

The problems arising from borrowing from loan sharks, and when borrowers default on their repayments, have been in the spotlight for some time now.

Although the police should be commended for their efforts in cracking down on unlicensed lending, an effective way to nip this problem in the bud is to make it a crime for anyone to borrow money from the "ah longs".

The growing demand from borrowers continues to fuel the proliferation of both licensed and unlicensed moneylenders.

While many borrowers turn to loan sharks because of gambling debts, there are also those who do so to finance their fancy lifestyles. When the demand stops, the supply will too, and there will be fewer incidents of loan shark harassment.

The pictures of suspects caught in the act of harassment should be published in all the papers and not just on the Internet.

Not many of us would bother to go online to read police appeals for information. Suspects would be caught faster if their pictures were to appear in print reports.

Lastly, why not impose stiff jail terms of up to 20 years and 24 strokes of the cane on loan shark runners? Perhaps then we will see who dares to work for loan sharks.

Grace Chow (Madam)