Abstract
One of the biggest challenges facing law enforcement over decades have been combating the scourge of illegal criminal syndicates providing unlicensed money lending (UML) services. Because of the unscrupulous and dangerous methods used by these criminals, they are also known collectively in the community as ‘loan sharks’. Despite years of enforcement and interdictions against these criminal elements, the UML continues to pose a problem for the community given the high profile and dangerous acts committed by the criminals. For the police to be effective in reducing the UML problem, an in-depth understanding of how the UML syndicates operates and the psyche of the UML offender is needed. The syndicates do not only harass the debtors but have been known to cause harm to innocent neighbours and members of public (see Policis, 2006). UML offending continue to be a major crime concern in Singapore although a review of the scientific papers highlighted the absence of analyses of trends in UML offending. No clear typologies categorizing UML offender have been identified to better understanding of their criminal conduct to inform effective crime prevention and deterrence efforts. To address these research gaps, this in-depth research aimed at uncovering the profile of the “Loan Shark” or Unlicensed Money Lender (UML) offender, understand the difference in characteristics of the UML offender at the various levels (i.e., runner1, towkay, big boss), and understand the organisational processes that maintains the resilience of the UML syndicates.The UML offender commonly appears as part of a criminal syndicate and the offence covers a myriad of offending behaviour. Study One investigated the UML offence related behaviour, hierarchies and typologies of loan sharks. Statement of facts from 184 investigation files on incarcerated UML offenders were coded to identify the behaviours associated with the different hierarchy and typologies of UML offenders. Further thematic analysis on the statements were conducted to uncover the behaviour, hierarchies and typologies associated with the different types of loan sharks. Given the syndicated nature of this organised crime behaviour.
Study Two investigated the characteristics of the different types of loan sharks. Through semi-structured interviews, personality measures and psychometric instruments (e.g., PICTs and Study of Values) administered to 24 incarcerated UML offenders, the research uncovered unique characteristics associated with each category of UML offenders. Deeper between and within group analyses were conducted between types of offenders to understand the characteristics of the respective UML offender types. The findings from study one unveiled that the UML offender is not a homogenous type of offender. Rather, there are differences in the static criminogenic factors between different ‘levels’ of UML offenders. There are also personality differences which suggest that the different ‘levels’ of offenders are attracted or driven into the offences for different motivations. To some extent, the UML offenders seemed like cheats by providing a loan which comes with punishing repayment terms. Yet it also seems similar with violent crime offenders through acts of intimidation and psychological harassment on debtors who fail to pay back the loan and interests.
In Study three, 24 UML offenders were compared against 20 financial crime offenders and 20 violent crime offenders by comparing their differences across personality measures and psychometric instruments. A comparative battery of measures was administered to the incarcerated financial crime and violent crime offenders. While there were similarities shared, the analysis suggested the UML offenders were a class of offending that straddled between financial crime offenders and violent crime offenders. The findings from the second study provided useful insights that the UML offender is largely different from the financial cheats and also not the same as violent crime offenders. Interestingly, the UML offender is a seemingly unique type of criminal offender.
The final study, Study Four investigated the organisational structure within the UML syndicates. Statement of facts from investigation papers and semi-structured interviews with incarcerated UML offenders were used to derive the structure of the UML syndicates. Content analysis was used with the interview and file data to derive the differences. It appeared that while there was a strong demand for trust within the syndicate, the members in the syndicate hardly trusted each other and were largely driven by the economic benefits from the crime rather than the sense of belonging commonly found in other crime syndicates such as the mafia and secret societies. In this final study, the drivers that ensures the resilience and survivability of the ‘hydra’ can be seen through the organisational structures within the UML. The UML syndicates are not street corner petty criminals but rather boast of quite robust organisational processes which sustains the offending despite persistent enforcement actions.
This research provided significant insights into the criminal phenomenon of UML and specifically in Singapore, provided insights into the contributors to the offence and offenders, and explored the considerations for combating the UML menace in the society. From a theoretical perspective, the study, the first of its kind, has identified UML offending as a distinct form of offending behaviour. The implications for combating the UML offending syndicates and offender, implications for theory, for crime fighting, and for the court system are discussed across the studies.
| Date of Award | 28 Nov 2024 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Sponsors | Singapore Police Force Postgraduate Award Scholarship |
| Supervisor | Katarina Fritzon (Supervisor) & Majeed Khader (Supervisor) |