KUALA LUMPUR: Ah Longs (loan sharks) are getting bolder these days and have even resorted to extorting money from borrowers who have settled their debt.
In August 2015, a victim who only wants to be known as Yong, said he had sought for RM30,000 loan from a man named Ivan after learning of the money lending service through a poster.
Yong met two men from the ‘loan company’ and they have agreed to extend the loan to him, which comes with additional interest and other administration fees.
A total of RM22,000 was later transferred to Yong’s bank account on the same night.
According to the borrower, he had paid off his debt, amounting to RM27,000 between November and December last year.
However, not long after he settled the debt, Yong’s father received a call from a man named Louis who introduced himself as a debt collector.
Louis had claimed that the company did not receive the monthly instalment and has only received RM10,000 so far.
“The man demanded RM17,500 from me to settle the loan. My family and I however decided not pay as I have paid off the amount,” Yong said at a press conference at Wisma MCA today.
Angered by his defiance, the loan shark continued to threaten the victim and his family and even splashed his family home in Happy Garden with red paint on at least 10 occasions.
The continuous threats eventually forced Yong and his family to move out of the house.
Yong had tried to contact Ivan to get clarifications on the matter but his efforts were futile.
MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said he believed that the Ah Longs are getting bolder as many people who have settled their debts are being threatened to pay more money.
He has received five similar cases so far and described it as a powerful extortion tactic.
“This is worst than blackmailing,” he said, adding he wants Ivan to see him to rectify the situation.