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KUCHING, July 17: A local man’s family house was burned by a foreign loan scam syndicate threatening him for not repaying a ‘loan’.
According to Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Public Complaint Bureau (SPCB) chief Milton Foo, the syndicate even—via the hiring of locals as their abettors or accomplices—threatened to burn their business premises in Kota Samarahan.
He said apart from that, a family member was also harassed by the syndicate through messages via WhatsApp using a mobile number registered in Singapore.
“The lawless and indignant act has angered the Sarawak people. Because not only our lives and property are endangered and threatened, but these people openly challenge our Malaysian laws,” he told a press conference at SUPP headquarters today.
Foo said the victim and his family members have also lodged six reports with Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) on the matter, including three reports with Singaporean authorities.
“I am sure the police will put their greatest effort into investigating the matter and bringing justice to the victim.
“I also hope that the Singapore police can bring the mastermind to court for prosecution,” he added.
Based on the victim’s chronology of the case, it started when he received a message through Facebook with a link offering a personal loan. After clicking the link, he was directed to a WhatsApp number from Singapore and conversed with the individual behind the number regarding the personal loan.
Agreeing with the explanation provided, the victim then provided his personal details. He was later contacted by another number from Singapore, confirming the loan application.
Once the process was done, the individual showed the victim the loan application details and told him to pay a processing fee. Believing it was legit, the victim then made an initial transaction of S$2,000.
Following that, he also made subsequent transactions amounting to S$32,000. The victim only realised he was scammed after one of his friends stopped him from making another transaction and lodged a report with the Singapore police on Feb 17.
On Feb 19, the victim again lodged a police report because an individual from Singapore deposited S$300 into his bank account without his acknowledgement. On Feb 21, the victim received a WhatsApp message saying he borrowed the money and did not want to return it.
Shocked by what happened, he then checked his bank account and found that S$300 had been deposited into his bank account. He assumed the same group did it because they had his bank account details. On Feb 22, the victim made another police report on the matter and was advised by the authorities to block the bank account and ignore everything.
Believing it had ended, a few weeks later, the victim’s family members were harassed by the syndicate with a threatening message saying, “If you do not want to return the money, I will burn your house”.
On July 7, at 2.45pm, the victim received a video of a burning house only to find out that it was his family house in Kota Samarahan. Following that, six police reports were made by the victim and his family members.
Fed up with the threats, the victim called the syndicate to ask for a resolution to end the matter, to which the syndicate demanded S$30,000. — DayakDaily
