VETERAN sports administrator Datuk Sieh Kok Chi has claimed that he and his physically and mentally impaired daughter have become victims of fraud, and could lose RM1.46 million to a former national athlete.
Kok Chi, 82, alleged that he was approached in 2012 by the former athlete who sought his assistance to purchase a shop lot in Seri Petaling.
He agreed to jointly purchase the property and paid RM1.46 million of his own money, and assisted the athlete to obtain a bank loan of RM1.5 million which would allow each party to own half of the property.
Kok Chi decided to give his half of the property to his disabled daughter Shen-Nern. The latter signed a sales and purchase agreement together with the former athlete in May, 2012.
However, late last year, Kok Chi found out that his daughter's share of the property had been transferred — without his or his daughter's knowledge — to the former athlete in October 2019.
This was done pursuant to a Power of Attorney — which allows authorisation to act on another's behalf — dated March 2014 which Kok Chi and Shen-Nern, 46, also have no knowledge of.
Kok Chi believes his daughter's signature was forged, and assisted by a false witness. He has made a police report on the matter early this year.
"My daughter is totally disabled and can only sign her signature with me guiding her," said Kok Chi.
"I have taken her (Shen-Nern) to Melbourne on at least two occasions to have her medically examined by specialists, all of whom have confirmed her to be intellectually disabled.
"The signature on the Power of Attorney (authorisation) in March 2014 — which I was not present for — is different from the one signed on the Sales and Purchase Agreement in 2012 which she signed under my guidance.
"My daughter was unable to pass both her Standard 6 government examinations as well as her Lower Certificate Exam when she was 14 as she was very poor in her studies. She cannot read nor write in English or Malay."
Kok Chi, who is currently hospitalised due to respiratory issues, admitted that he is incredibly disappointed by what has happened.
"To be cheated by this person at this stage of my life is very unfair," said Kok Chi.
"As you may be aware, I have served the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) for over 40 years without taking a single cent from OCM."
Kok Chi, an engineer by profession, had served with the Department of Irrigation and Drainage until he retired in 1991.
He had been involved with OCM since the 1970s and had served as honorary secretary and secretary-general for the umbrella body between 1992-2015.