Ah Long targeting borrowers’ ‘associates’ over debts
KUALA LUMPUR: Two women are being harassed by loan sharks simply for the crime of being associated with the borrowers.
Chew Yeng Chian’s business partner and Goh Seow Leng’s ex-husband had both borrowed money from loan sharks.
Both men have since disappeared without a trace and the two women are now in the cross-hairs of the loan sharks.
Chew said her partner used to ask associates to allow him to use their bank accounts to move funds to other parties.
It was only after an incident on Monday, when two loan sharks went to her company’s hostel to demand payment, did the 29-yearold businesswoman realise that the partner had used their accounts to borrow and pay off loan sharks.
The loan sharks claimed that she and her associates were responsible since the bank accounts used in the transactions belonged to them.
Chew believed her partner had previously borrowed money from 15 loan sharks and that he had an accumulated debt of around RM1mil.
For retired tutor Goh, her ex-husband’s debt hangs over her head to this day.
The 57-year-old divorced her husband seven years ago but loan sharks are still holding her responsible and demanding that she locate the defaulter.
Last Friday, Goh received a threatening call from a loan shark ordering her to reveal the whereabouts of her ex-husband.
Goh pleaded with the caller, saying that she had already broken ties with the borrower years ago and that she had no legal responsibility over his actions anymore.
However, the loan shark berated her and threatened to “chop off her hands” if she did not tell him where her ex-husband was.
She added that he had a gambling habit when they were still married and his addiction was a key factor that led to the divorce.
“He had also made our two children put money into his bank account previously,” said Goh.
Both women made their cases known to the media at a press conference organised by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong.
“Some loan sharks are becoming more and more unreasonable. They are using bullying tactics now to get their way,” said Chong.
He added that he had recently highlighted the issue with Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Amar Singh, who gave his word that he would look into the matter.