A seemingly unusual act outside a residential unit in Choa Chu Kang has led to the arrest of a 59-year-old man in a suspected loanshark harassment case.
The incident happened on the night of August 31 at a residential unit along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 5, according to the Singapore Police Force.
Police said they were alerted at about 8:55pm after shoes placed on a rack outside the unit were allegedly scattered across the floor. A bicycle lock was also allegedly left on the shoe rack.
Police identify suspect using camera images
Officers from the Jurong Police Division conducted follow-up investigations and used images from police cameras to establish the identity of the suspect.
The 59-year-old was arrested on September 1, one day after the incident.
Police said preliminary investigations indicate that he may also be involved in other cases of suspected loanshark harassment. The authorities did not provide further details about those alleged cases.
The man is scheduled to be charged in court on September 3 under the Moneylenders Act 2008.
A different kind of loanshark harassment
Loanshark harassment in Singapore has commonly involved tactics such as splashing paint on residential units, leaving debtor notes or securing gates with bicycle locks.
This latest case stands out because the alleged harassment involved scattering the victim’s shoes and leaving a bicycle lock on the shoe rack.
Earlier cases show that bicycle locks have also been used in alleged loanshark harassment incidents.
In May 2026, police arrested a 27-year-old man after a residential gate in Bukit Batok West Avenue 8 was allegedly secured with a bicycle lock and a debtor’s note was left behind.
In February, a 36-year-old woman was arrested after the main gate of a residential unit along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4 was allegedly splashed with red paint. Police said preliminary investigations indicated that she may have been involved in other similar cases islandwide.
There was also another Choa Chu Kang case in February involving a 19-year-old male teenager who was arrested after a wooden shoe cabinet outside a residential unit along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 5 was allegedly toppled.
Serious penalties for loanshark harassment
The Singapore Police Force has repeatedly warned that loanshark harassment is a serious offence.
For a first-time offender convicted of loanshark harassment under the Moneylenders Act 2008, the offence 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.
Police have also reiterated that they have zero tolerance for activities involving loanshark harassment, particularly acts that vandalise property, cause annoyance or disrupt public safety and security.
Members of the public are advised not to engage with or assist loansharks.
Anyone who suspects or knows of someone involved in loansharking activities can contact the police at 999.
The bigger picture
The arrest comes amid continued police enforcement against unlicensed moneylending activities in Singapore.
In August, more than 100 officers took part in an islandwide operation targeting an alleged unlicensed moneylending syndicate. Police said 11 people were arrested and that the syndicate was believed to be linked to at least 25,500 ScamShield reports and 1,509 police reports, including 883 related to unlicensed moneylending.
While the Choa Chu Kang incident may have involved an unusual method, authorities are treating it as part of the wider problem of loanshark harassment.
For residents, the message from police remains clear: report suspected harassment or loansharking activity rather than engaging with the perpetrators.
The 59-year-old remains a suspect, and the allegations have not been proven in court.
Sources checked
AsiaOne, Singapore Police Force, Mothership and Stomp were checked against one another for the incident details and legal information.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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