SINGAPORE - Three men were charged in court on Thursday with harassing borrowers at home on the orders of loansharks.

Jaron Chow Jiarong, 22, and Theodore Poh Eu-Sean, 19, are accused of setting fire to four flats in Ang Mo Kio, Hougang and Yishun from July 9 to 11.

They also allegedly splashed paint and scribbled threatening notes to the debtors on the walls.

The duo, who face six charges each, were said to be operating under orders from an unlicensed moneylender known only as "Bill".

In a separate case, Muhammad Saufi Mohamad Salleh, 22, faces 10 similar charges related to loanshark harassment.

He allegedly set fire to at least five flats in Tampines, Bedok North, Pasir Ris and Bukit Merah in the last two months, taking instructions from an unlicensed moneylender with the moniker "Sam Ong".

He also stands accused of defacing walls with indelible markers and locking the gates of borrowers with bicycle chains.

Chow's and Poh's cases will next be heard in court on Aug 20, while Saufi's will be heard on Friday . All three have been offered bail of $50,000.

If convicted, they could be jailed for up to five years and also fined up to $50,000. They also face up to six strokes of the cane.