Shocked by loan shark attack: The technician’s house and cars (left and right) in Taman Mutiara Rini, Johor Baru, seen after they were splashed with red paint by loan sharks who keep harassing his family over a previous homeowner’s debts.
JOHOR BARU: A technician’s home and cars were splashed with red paint by loan sharks who harassed him for debts owed by a previous homeowner.
The victim, known only as Seow, said the incident took place at around 12.30am on Dec 21, resulting in his car that was parked inside the porch and another vehicle parked outside being smeared with red paint.
“To make things worse, my neighbour’s car was also stained by the paint.
“This has also left my wife and two young daughters terrified. We no longer feel safe in our own home,” the 44-year-old said.
Seow, who works in Singapore, had purchased the subsale house through a property agent over a year ago, and moved in with his family early last year.
“There were no issues until August, when a man believed to be a loan shark runner turned up on a motorcycle and pasted a warning notice outside the house.
“The note had the name, address and identity card number of an alleged debtor, along with a warning to repay the debt or face further consequences. The runner also chained the house gate at the time,” he recounted.
Seow said he confronted the runner, who claimed he was “just doing his job” and put him in touch with another man over the phone.
“I explained that I was the new homeowner and had nothing to do with the previous owner’s debts, but he insisted I locate the former owner or the harassment would continue,” he said.
The situation escalated on Dec 21 when Seow was out.
“My young daughters were already asleep and my wife was preparing to go to bed when she heard noises outside.
“She immediately called me after checking the closed circuit television footage and saw a helmeted and masked man splashing red paint on the house and vehicles,” he said, adding that he lodged a police report right after.
Seow said he also sought assistance from state Bersatu associate wing public complaints bureau chief Lim Thow Siang, who agreed to help him get in touch with the loan sharks as mediator.
“I have now covered my front gate with a canvas sheet in case the loan sharks come again.
“I hope they will look for the right person and stop harassing my family and me,” he added.
When contacted, Iskandar Puteri OCPD Asst Comm M. Kumarasan said probe is ongoing under Section 427 of the Penal Code for committing mischief.
