GEORGE TOWN: Malaysian influencer, DJ and film actress Siew Pui Yi has filed a civil suit against her former business partner for allegedly cheating her of RM4.3 million between 2022 and 2023.
Better known as Ms Puiyi, the 25-year-old filed the civil suit online, through her lawyer, K. Mahendren, at the Penang High Court here yesterday.
Speaking at a press conference at his lawyer's office in Green Hall here today, Ms Puiyi said she initiated the civil action against the 29-year-old man, known as 'Mentos', on the issue that he had allegedly cheated and deceived her into handing over approximately RM4.3 million.
Mentos used to be in her company's board of director and managed investments, payroll and human resources.
"The civil action I filed is to recover the amount defrauded by him. He deceived me by promising that he could resolve my company and my personal income tax issues with the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).
"I have trusted him and have handed over the amount of money to him. Next, I found that he did not solve my income tax problem.
"Due to the actions of Mentos, I have suffered losses," she said.
Ms Puiyi had lodged a police report at the northeast district police headquarters on Oct 24 last year.
"The police have started an investigation, and we have given full cooperation to the police," she added.
Ms Puiyi met Mentos through a mutual friend back in 2019 and was told that he was a person with integrity and that she could trust him as a business partner.
She said even though there were some questionable things about the man, she decided to trust him as a director of her company, PY Empire Sdn Bhd.
When she found out he had failed to resolve the income tax issues, she lodged the police report and terminated his position.
Meanwhile, Mahendren said the civil suit named Mentos as the defendant.
"My client is claiming for special damages amounting to RM4 million, costs and other reliefs," he said.
He said police had recorded his client's statements a few times.
The police report was lodged in Penang as the first transactions of the case were made in Penang.
Besides Malaysia, Ms Puiyi has been actively establishing her presence in the entertainment industry elsewhere, particularly in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
She has over 24 million followers on Instagram.