JOHOR BARU: What was supposed to be a typical day at the shop turned into a nightmare for a windscreen shop manager after seeing his shop at Jalan Dedap 13, Taman Johor Jaya, here splashed with red paint.
The victim, who only wanted to be known as Tay, 53, said that the shop was also plastered with wanted posters of a former employee of the shop, who has not worked there since 2014.
"The incident occurred at 7.45am on Monday (Sept 5) after one of my workers arrived at the shop.
"There were also posters with the picture and personal information of a former employee all over the shutter door, along with a note that says 'pay the money you owe or else'," he said when met by reporters at his shop.
Tay believes a loan shark who also left contact information on the posters was responsible for that act.
"The man they are looking for is known as Cheah, 32. He left the shop eight years ago. He only worked here for ten months and used to stay at the workers' dorm upstairs.
"We contacted the loan shark to tell them that Cheah was no longer here and asked them not to bother the shop.
"But the loan shark told us to either settle Cheah's debt or help them locate his whereabouts," he said.
He added that the loan shark also shared personal information about Cheah's family in Penang such as their phone numbers, home addresses and car licence plate numbers.
Tay, concerned that the loan shark might target him and the other workers at the shop, lodged a police report the same day.
"We tried to contact Cheah using a Singaporean phone number given by the loan shark via WhatsApp, but all we got was a blue tick before we were blocked.
"The loan shark also shared Cheah's work permit number and said he owed them more than SG$800 (RM2,554)," said Tay, adding that he suffered losses of around RM2,000 due to the damaged signboard.
Meanwhile, Johor Jaya assemblyman Liow Cai Tung said he hoped the loan sharks would leave the shop alone and go after the man they are looking for.
"They already have all the information they need to find the man, so why bother this shop and harass them?" she asked.
Meanwhile, Seri Alam OCPD Supt Mohd Sohaimi Ishak said police have confirmed the police report.
"The case is being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code for mischief and causing loss or damage, which carries imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than five years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction," he said.
