182 people nabbed in island-wide blitz against loan-sharking activities

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http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/courts-crime/story/182-people-nabbed-island-wide-blitz-against-loan-sharking-activiti

Nearly 200 people, aged between 16 and 77, were arrested in an island-wide sting against loansharking.

The operation, which took place from Aug 11 to 15, caught 126 men and 56 women during simultaneous raids at multiple locations. 

Preliminary investigations revealed that 165 suspects are believed to have opened bank accounts and given away their Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and Personal Identification Number to the loansharks to help them in their criminal activities.

Another 16 are believed to be involved in harassment, or as runners who carry out ATM transfers, verify debtors' particulars and check if their homes have been vandalised. Investigations against all the suspects are ongoing.

Under the Moneylenders' Act, when a bank account or ATM card of any person is used to facilitate moneylending by an unlicensed moneylender, that person is presumed to have assisted in the carrying on the business of unlicensed moneylending.