Paint sprayer claims identity theft, now owes banks RM245,000

Source: http://www.fz.com/content/paint-sprayer-claims-identity-theft-now-owes-banks-rm245000 (By FZ.COM/Pathma Subramaniam, 16/8/2013)

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 16): A 25-year-old car paint sprayer is at the risk of being declared bankrupt after two cars were bought using his stolen MyKad.

According to hire purchase papers from AmBank and RHB, Wong Leong Chun bought two Nissan Sylphy sedans worth more than RM114,000 each in a matter of weeks in July 2011. However, Wong, who earns RM1,500 monthly, said he had neither purchased the cars nor signed up for the loans.

"In fact, he was not aware of this problem until he received a legal notice from Ambank, which has initiated bankruptcy proceedings against him," said Segambut DAP MP Lim Lip Eng, at a press conference today. Speaking on behalf of Wong, Lim said the former has lost his MyKad twice and it has been verified by the National Registration Department (NRD).

Wong had approached Lim last month after no action taken on the police reports the former had lodged in December last year and in January this year regarding the confusion. Wong who is only to communicate in Mandarin only, managed say a few words when asked on the case. "I've not been able to be at peace, to sleep."

According a letter from the NRD, Wong lost his MyKad for the first time in Nov 19, 2007 and for the second time when his wallet was stolen on Aug 1, 2011, a month after the cars were purchased.

"This is why there is a doubt of identity theft because once a new MyKad has been issued the old one should be automatically terminated," said Lim. Moreover, in the process of sanctioning a loan, a bank would have to verify the individual's detail using the biometric system and the borrower has to be present before the bank officer and agent when the documents are signed, he said. "As the loans were not serviced, Ambank has taken him (Wong) to the High Court here and wants him to pay RM113,784.94 or be declared a bankrupt.

According to RHB hire purchase documents, Wong owes the bank RM131,480.

"The legal notice was served on Dec 22 last year following which Wong had lodged another police report stating that he had lost MyKad twice and that it could have been misused to purchase the cars, but there has not been an investigation," said Lim.

According to the Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS) database, Wong has been blacklisted as a result of the two unserviced borrowings. Upon the shocking discovery of his credit status, Wong had again lodged another police report on Jan 16 on similar grounds in order to compel Bank Negara to clear his credit ratings.

Lim said he has written to both the banks asking for verification documents signed by Wong as well as to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar on the progress of investigations on the reports lodged, but to no avail.

"Wong was supposed to appear in court on July 11 but he didn't go. I'm not sure when is the bankruptcy case will come up again but we will raise this issue when it does or appeal on the judgment," said Lim. Lim, who is also a lawyer, added that he will write to Bank Negara on Wong's behalf to compel the national financial institution to investigate the case and obtain reports from the two banks.

"He (Wong) has been having sleepless night because he is so afraid he would declared bankrupt for something he has no memory of.

"From the police reports he has lodged, we must at least give him the benefit of doubt," said Lim, noting that the crime could have  been committed by sales agent or a banking staff. He has urged the police department to blacklist both the cars in order to get to the root of the matter.