SINGAPORE: A domestic helper was charged on Wednesday (Feb 28) with helping loan sharks post advertisements on social media application TikTok.
Ida Yuliati, a 43-year-old Indonesian, was given one count under the Moneylenders’ Act of assisting unlicensed moneylenders in their business.
She indicated to the court that she would be pleading guilty but claimed to be unware that she borrowed from unlicensed moneylenders.
According to an earlier statement, the police said they received more than 10 police reports of a TikTok account that was promoting unlicensed moneylending activities.
Ida had allegedly helped the loan sharks post 20 loan advertisements on TikTok between Jun 14 and Jun 25 last year at Wilkinson Road.
Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department identified Ida.
The police said they will continue to take “tough enforcement actions against those involved in the loansharking business”, including those who promote such activities on social media.
“Regardless of their roles, they will face the full brunt of the law. Migrant workers who have assisted or borrowed money from unlicensed moneylenders may also be repatriated and barred from working in Singapore,” said the police.
The police added they have been working with the relevant ministries and partners to educate migrant domestic workers against borrowing money from unlicensed moneylenders.
If convicted of assisting unlicensed moneylenders in their business, Ida could be jailed for up to four years and fined between S$30,000 and S$300,000.
As her charge is amalgamated or involves multiple incidents grouped together, she can face up to double these penalties.