England Illegal Money Lending Team
Part of Trading Standards – funded by NTSB
Ref: Mallari Sentencing
Date: Tuesday 18th June 2013
Cambridge loan shark sentenced.
A 46 year old woman who admitted operating as a loan shark in Cherry Hinton,
Cambridge, has been sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for 18
months, following a hearing at Cambridge Crown Court.
Narcita Mallari, of Arran Close pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal money
lending just before she was due to stand trial. She was investigated and
prosecuted by the England Illegal Money Lending Team working in partnership
with Cambridge County Council.
A second suspect a 41 year old woman also from Cambridge, pleaded not
guilty and charges have not been proceeded with.
Mallari ran the illegal business for two years from January 2010 up until the
point of her arrest in January 2012, lending to members of the local Filipino
community.
During the search of her home the England Illegal Money Lending Team found
notebooks and diaries recording the details of borrowers. 75 entries were
recorded, with a total of around £156,000 being loaned out, with interest and
late payment charges added. The amounts ranged from £350 to £4000.
The court heard how Mallari harassed borrowers with aggressive texts, emails
and facebook messages or would turn up at borrower’s homes uninvited to
demand repayment.
In one instance she told a borrower she wanted to “scrub their face on
concrete” and told another to “get an advance on their funeral”. Victims
described how they were frightened and badly affected by Mallari’s behaviour.
She threatened to shame borrowers about their debt, by telling other people in
the community, and one occasion she forced a borrower to hand over the title
deeds for land in the Philippines as security on the loan.
Mallari didn’t hold a licence to lend money legally and provided little or no
paperwork- borrowers described how it was very difficult to get a definite
answer of how much they were to pay, as the debt kept spiralling.
Upon sentencing HHJ Hawkesworth said “Mallari reverted to making threats of
a not particularly florid nature but causing fear and anxiety in particular as to
what might happen to a victim’s family. Mallari became angry at the fact that
there were problems with repayment and attempted to obtain title deeds from a
victim. This clearly crosses the custody threshold but I can suspend.”
Cambridgeshire County Council Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Skill,
Councillor Mathew Shuter, said: "Our Trading Standards team works closely
with the England Illegal Money Lending Team and this successful prosecution
is a result of that co-operation. Illegal money lenders prey on some of the most
vulnerable people in our community and anything we can do to stamp out their
activities has to be a good thing and I would urge anyone who has been a
victim of such a money lender or has any information on their activities to report
it to the authorities immediately."
Tony Quigley Head of the England Illegal Money Lending Team said “We are
continuing to crack down on loan sharks who operate illegally in our
communities, using fear and intimidation to force borrowers into paying back far
more than they have borrowed. We would urge people never to turn to a loan
shark, no matter how desperate they are, as they will end up trapped in
spiralling debt. If you or someone you know has been affected by a loan shark,
then we can put an end to their criminal activities. Call us in confidence on 0300
555 2222.”
Nationally the Stop Loan Shark Project has secured 235 prosecutions for illegal
money lending and related activity, leading more than 157 years worth of
custodial sentences. They have written off £40.3 million worth of illegal debt and
helped over 20,000 victims.
To report a loan shark:
Call the 24/7 confidential hotline 0300 555 2222
Text ‘loan shark + your message’ to 60003
E-mail [email protected]
Private message us on www.facebook.com/stoploansharksproject
***ENDS***
For more information contact Sarah-Jane Lynch, Illegal Money Lending Team
communications officer, on 0121 693 1030 or 07881617119 or email [email protected]. To speak to the National Trading Standards
Board with a more general enquiry please contact the Trading Standards
Institute press office on 0845 6089430 or [email protected].
Notes to editors
The National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) is a group of senior and
experienced local government heads of trading standards, representing all
trading standards services across England and Wales. The Board has been set
up by the Government as part of changes to the consumer protection landscape
and an enhanced role for trading standards.
NTSB provides leadership influence, support and resources to help
combat consumer and business detriment locally, regionally and
nationally.
The Stop Loan Sharks Project consists of three Illegal money lending teams in
England, Scotland and Wales. The NTSB has responsibility for the England
and Wales Illegal Money Lending Teams that are hosted by Birmingham City
Council and Cardiff Council. There are separate arrangements in place in
Scotland.
Nationally, Illegal Money Lending Teams have secured 235 prosecutions for
illegal money lending and related activity, leading to more than 157 years-worth
of custodial sentences. They have written off £40.3 million worth of illegal debt
and helped over 20,000 people.
The Illegal Money Lending Teams in England and Wales work in partnership
with local Trading Standards Authorities in their related countries. They consist
of specialist officers who investigate and prosecute illegal money lending and
related activity and LIAISE officers who support victims and raise awareness of
the dangers of borrowing from illegal money lenders.
Ends