Police investigating 77 people, including 19-year-old, for alleged unlicensed moneylending activities

A total of 77 individuals, including a 19-year-old, are being investigated by the police for their alleged involvement in unlicensed moneylending activities.

Police said on Tuesday (Oct 6) that they conducted an islandwide enforcement operation from Sept 21 to 25 by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and the seven police land divisions.

Preliminary investigations revealed that seven people had allegedly harassed debtors at their residences, while 38 others were runners who assisted in unlicensed moneylending activities by carrying out ATM transfers.

Also under investigation are 32 individuals who are believed to have opened bank accounts and provided their ATM cards, personal identification numbers as well as internet banking tokens to unlicensed moneylenders to facilitate their illegal operations.

Police investigations against all 77 individuals are ongoing.

If found guilty of acting on behalf of an unlicensed moneylender to commit or attempt to commit any acts of harassment, the seven suspects may be jailed for up to five years, fined between $5,000 and $50,000, and receive three to six strokes of the cane.

Those found guilty of facilitating moneylending by an unlicensed moneylender using a bank account, ATM card or internet banking token face a jail term of up to four years, a fine between $30,000 and $300,000, and up to six strokes of the cane.

Additionally, those who allow their bank accounts to be used by unlicensed moneylending syndicates for illicit transactions may face prosecution and a ban from using ATM and internet banking facilities for a year.

The police also advised members of the public to stay away from unlicensed moneylenders and avoid working for or assisting them in any way.

警方正在调查包括一名 19 岁青年在内的共 77 人，他们涉嫌参与无证放贷活动。

警方周二（10月6日）表示，刑事调查部和七个陆地警署的警员于9月21日至25日在全岛范围内开展了执法行动。

初步调查显示，有 7 人涉嫌在债务人住所骚扰他们，另有 38 人是跑腿人员，通过 ATM 转账协助进行无证放贷活动。

此外，还有 32 人正在接受调查，他们被认为开设了银行账户，并将自己的 ATM 卡、个人识别码以及网上银行令牌提供给无牌放贷者，以协助其进行非法活动。

警方对全部77名涉案人员的调查仍在进行中。

如果被判犯有代表无牌放贷者实施或企图实施任何骚扰行为的罪行，这七名嫌疑人可能被判处最高五年监禁，罚款 5,000 至 50,000 美元，并处以三至六下鞭刑。

凡被发现使用银行账户、ATM卡或网上银行令牌为无牌放贷者提供放贷便利者，将面临最高四年监禁、3万至30万美元罚款以及最高六下鞭刑。

此外，允许无牌放贷集团利用其银行账户进行非法交易的人可能会面临起诉，并被禁止在一年内使用自动取款机和网上银行服务。

警方还建议公众远离无牌放贷者，避免以任何方式为他们工作或协助他们。