Man Fakes Kidnapping to Trick Parents into Paying Loan Shark Debts

A 28-year-old Grab driver in Malaysia has been accused of staging his own kidnapping to trick his parents into paying RM30,000 (S$9,500) to settle his loan shark debts. The elaborate drama, however, unraveled less than 24 hours later when police located him at a budget hotel in Kuang, near Sungai Buloh, revealing the incident was allegedly orchestrated with the guidance of loan sharks.

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At the time, he promised his father that he would never borrow from loan sharks again.

According to Datuk Seri Michael Chong, head of the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department, the man had previously accumulated RM45,000 in debts to loan sharks, which his father had settled in early May. Despite promising his father he would cease borrowing from loan sharks, the man is believed to have accumulated another RM40,000 in debt by the end of June.

The deception began when the man's mother received a phone call on July 25 from someone claiming to be a loan shark, demanding ransom for his release. When she attempted to call back, the number went unanswered. Later, the man's father managed to contact his son, who claimed he had been kidnapped, threatened with a knife, and would be killed if the ransom was not paid. The family subsequently filed a police report.

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The caller, who claimed to be a loan shark, demanded RM30,000 as ransom for his release.

During their time at the police station, the father continued to receive calls from the alleged kidnappers. Following police advice, he requested proof of his son's well-being and received a photograph that appeared to show his son lying in a car boot. However, police quickly identified the photo as suspicious, noting it resembled a selfie rather than a genuine hostage image. Authorities then tracked the mobile phone, leading them to the man hiding in the budget hotel. Police investigations indicate the man confessed that loan sharks had instructed him on how to stage the kidnapping to pressure his parents.

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However, police immediately suspected that the photograph was fake because it resembled a selfie rather than a genuine hostage photograph.

The man has since been charged under Section 385 of the Penal Code for extortion and Section 417 for cheating. His father, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed profound disappointment, stating he would no longer assist his son financially or repay his debts to loan sharks. He declared that any further dealings with loan sharks should be directed to the police.

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I will not help my son anymore. I will also not repay any more debts owed to loan sharks. As for the loan sharks, do not come looking for me again.