Jewellery store manager claims blackmailed into handing over RM32,000 worth of jewellery

MCA public services and complaints department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong with Liew Kim Loong and his wife Huai Li, following a press conference on Monday.

KUALA LUMPUR: A jewellery store manager claims he was blackmailed into handing over RM32,000 worth of jewellery to a man.

Liew Kim Long, 33, said he had known the man about seven years ago but had lost touch.

"Last August, he suddenly contacted me and tried to sell me an amulet.

"On Sept 18, he sent me several messages slandering me and accusing me of disturbing his wife. He also tried to extort money from me," he told reporters at the MCA public services and complaints department on Monday (Oct 4).

Liew said on the same day, the man came to his shop at around 7pm and caused a ruckus.

"He beat me up and snatched a gold chain and a ring worth RM12,000 and demanded RM20,000 from me.

"The next day, the man and his wife came to my workplace again with two other men.

“They threatened to kidnap me as well as take away all the gold from my shop," he said, adding that out of fear, he handed over a gold necklace worth RM20,180.

Liew claimed that he never owed the man any money and had never disturbed his wife.

"The man is now demanding another RM1,433 cash from me because he claims that he sold the gold at a 25% loss.

“He said that if I do not settle it within two days, I will incur interest daily," Liew said, adding that he had lodged two police reports over the matter.

MCA public services and complaints department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said that since 2018, six such cases had been reported and it could just be the tip of the iceberg of more unreported cases.