SINGAPORE- A 39-year-old man has been arrested for his suspected involvement in a series of loanshark-related harassment cases islandwide.

Between Sept 24, 2014 and Oct 7, 2014, there were multiple reports of loanshark harassment cases in Jurong West, Toa Payoh, Woodlands, and Taman Jurong public housing estates. Based on the reports, Crime Strike Force officers from Jurong Police Division's Nanyang, Woodlands East, Choa Chu Kang and Jurong West neighbourhood police centres carried out investigations and obtained images of the suspect from various surveillance cameras.

They managed to ascertain the suspect's identity and arrested him on Nov 5 in the vicinity of Towner Road.

He is believed to be a debtor-turned-harasser, who had locked the main gates of debtors' residences with bicycle locks and scribbled loanshark-related graffiti on the walls.

After arresting the man, the officers seized a mobile phone, one black sling bag, and the attire that he was believed to have worn while committing the offences.

He will be charged in State Courts on Thursday. Under the Moneylenders Act 2010 (Revised Edition), first-time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment may be jailed up to 5 years, and fined between $5,000 and $50,000. They may also be caned between three and six strokes.