The family of an 18-year-old girl is fearing the worst after she quietly left the home in Johor Bahru two weeks ago and has not been heard from since.
China Press reported that the teen, Chen Yanbing (transliteration), had just received her SPM results and was looking for a job before she reportedly left home on May 26.
‘She changed after meeting him’
Speaking at a press conference, Chen’s mother, Lin Siewlan (transliteration), described the teen as a quiet person who had little friends.
She claimed that Chen’s personality changed drastically after she met her 22-year-old boyfriend, and would often keep mum on the relationship and the man whenever family members enquired about it.
Red flags first showed up last year when a neighbour saw Chen leaving the house with a man at night and informed her family about it.
When confronted, Chen said she was merely going out to meet with her friends.
Things took another turn in December when the family discovered that Chen had left home with her boyfriend, prompting her elder sister, who was studying in China at the time, to intervene and convince Chen to return.
Chen eventually came home after a police report was made on the same day.
Quietly left home
On the morning of May 26 of this year, Lin walked in to an empty room and saw that Chen was no longer in the house, leading her to believe the teen left when everyone was asleep.
Chen was unreachable as she had turned off her mobile phone and attempts to locate her through her friends were also unsuccessful.
Trafficking fears
Chen’s family is deeply worried for her safety after they discovered text messages which showed Chen being persuaded by her boyfriend to borrow RM500 for him.
Lin said she tried prying for information regarding the money, but Chen never told her where the money came from.
Gerakan vice-president Koo Shiaw Lee, who was also present, said Chen’s disappearance has raised fears that she may have been trafficked overseas or exploited by criminal syndicates.
Koo added that he would be submitting a letter to Johor police urging them to investigate the case further.
He also pleaded with Chen to contact her family if she sees the news report, saying her family is worried for her and are willing to discuss any issues she may be facing.
Thoe with information about Chen’s whereabouts may contact Koo at 017-7723996.
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