Thinking that his family would be at home waiting to receive him after spending months recuperating at the hospital, a man in Johor had a shock of his life when he found the house to be completely empty.
He later discovered that a RM200,000 debt owed to a group of loan sharks (Ah Long) by his son was the reason for his family disappearing without a trace.
M’sian man returns after 10 months at hospital for surgery
Speaking at a press conference at the Perling state assemblyman’s office in Taman Perling, the 63-year-old man, who wanted to be known as Khoo, said he spent 10 months at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital ward after undergoing an intestinal surgery.
When he returned to his home in Taman Bukit Indah in October, he was shocked to find not a single family member inside.
My son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, aged 2 and 4 years old, who had been living with me, were no longer there. Some of their belongings and clothes were also gone,” he said.
Needless to say, this left Khoo feeling puzzled as he had no idea what had transpired. However, little did he know the nightmare was just about to begin.
Visited by loan sharks over RM200,000 debt
A few days later, several loan sharks turned up at Khoo’s door and claimed that his son had owed them over RM200,000 and demanded that he settle it.
Several other loan sharks also harassed Khoo by calling him and threatened to damage his home and car if he failed to pay the debt, prompting him to lodge a police report on Oct 31.
Khoo shared that his son had worked at an eatery at Singapore and borrowed money from loan sharks during that time.
“Loan sharks there also harassed and troubled him at his workplace, forcing his employer to fire him. My wife, who works as a restaurant waitress in Singapore, is afraid to return home because of the loan sharks’ threats.
“I’m also worried that the loan sharks might damage my neighbour’s property as well,” he said, adding that he hasn’t been able to work due to poor health and has been surviving on the food and money given to him by his wife, friends, and neighbours.
Johor DAP assistant secretary Ng Siam Luang, who was also present, said the onus was one Khoo’s son as he was the one who borrowed money from the loan sharks.
She added that Khoo’s son must come home to settle the debt as it was his responsibility to do so.
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