Disowned son continues to give family hell

KUALA LUMPUR: Years ago, a 24-year-old’s family struggled to repay his RM1mil debt to 25 loan sharks. Now, they are facing harassment again.

Tired of being hounded by loan sharks, Ooi Inn Chiang, 55, took out an advertisement in a newspaper on Dec 24, 2016 to disown his son, Kok Jian.

However, the family is still being harassed by ah long.

“Because of his bad habit, my family is shattered now. We had no choice but to disown him.

“We were living a pleasant life with a steady income. But now, I’ve sold all my properties and closed down my business to repay his debts,” said Ooi from Sungai Petani.

His son was influenced by a school friend who had committed suicide a few years ago due to heavy debts.

“Our family is not at peace. We fight a lot nowadays,” said Ooi.

He said after winning RM80,000 at his first try at gambling, Kok Jian got greedy and continued gambling.

“Before this, our family was happy and blissful. Now relatives are scared of us and my wife is having depression and insomnia. I can’t take this kind of life anymore,” said the father of five.

“He is a liar. He told so many lies to different people in order to get money to gamble.

“My other sons dare not even come home, as ah long have threatened to harm us all,” said the ex-furniture manufacturer.

The family settled Kok Jian’s debts amounting to RM800,000 that he borrowed between 2006 and 2007.

The remaining RM200,000 was borrowed from relatives and friends – and the Ooi family is returning this via instalments.

Ooi also pleaded with ah long, relatives and friends not to lend money to Kok Jian who had disappeared since 2006.

Ooi’s wife, who was also at a press conference called by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department chief Datuk Seri Michael Chong, sobbed through the whole session.

Chong appealed to the loan sharks not to disturb innocent parties, especially family members of borrowers.

He said the problem of gambling debts was getting more and more serious in the Chinese community.

“Of a total 291 cases involving RM27mil that I knew of, they made up around 80%,” he said.

Ooi lodged a report on Sept 24 at the Kuala Muda police station in Kedah.