A mob made up of disgruntled customers and men claiming to be from the ‘Tiga Line' underworld gang ransacked and robbed a used car dealer in Klang in broad daylight early this month, resulting in several hundred thousand ringgit in losses.
"They broke the office door to enter and ransacked my office, taking away five cars, two laptops, wallets and belongings of the staff, as well as nearly RM70,000 in cash," said a company director who declined to be named.
The brazen attack, where the men were accompanied by a couple of journalists, was recorded by CCTV cameras installed in the office premises.
"One came into my office, which had no CCTV, pulled out a knife and dragged me out to the front office," said the used car dealer.
"At first, he introduced himself as a police officer, but when I asked for his identity card and why he needed the knife, he kept quiet and dragged me out."
She said another man, who identified himself as a ‘Tiga Line' member, forced her to produce a letter saying that the company owed its customers RM200,000 in deposits and for the money to be repaid to the customers present, with the balance to the gang for "services rendered".
About seven customers then came to collect their deposits, and the company director said some of them claimed more than the deposits they had made and some even claimed twice.
Threatened by the mob, the company director and her staff had no choice but to pay the intruders, though she managed to get all who came to put their thumb prints on papers confirming they had received the cash.
"I wanted to trap them, and surprisingly they cooperated."
'One attacker has gun in his waistband'
Malaysiakini was furnished with copies of CCTV recordings showing the incident that took place on April 7, the police report lodged by the director, as well as copies of the receipts and car booking documentation.
In the video, the assailants, some armed with what seemed to be baseball bats and car steering wheel locks, can be seen threatening the staff, ransacking the office and carting away boxes and other goods.
"They broke the office door to enter and ransacked my office, taking away five cars, two laptops, wallets and belongings of the staff, as well as nearly RM70,000 in cash," said a company director who declined to be named.
The brazen attack, where the men were accompanied by a couple of journalists, was recorded by CCTV cameras installed in the office premises.
"One came into my office, which had no CCTV, pulled out a knife and dragged me out to the front office," said the used car dealer."At first, he introduced himself as a police officer, but when I asked for his identity card and why he needed the knife, he kept quiet and dragged me out."
She said another man, who identified himself as a ‘Tiga Line' member, forced her to produce a letter saying that the company owed its customers RM200,000 in deposits and for the money to be repaid to the customers present, with the balance to the gang for "services rendered".
About seven customers then came to collect their deposits, and the company director said some of them claimed more than the deposits they had made and some even claimed twice.
Threatened by the mob, the company director and her staff had no choice but to pay the intruders, though she managed to get all who came to put their thumb prints on papers confirming they had received the cash.
"I wanted to trap them, and surprisingly they cooperated."
'One attacker has gun in his waistband'
Malaysiakini was furnished with copies of CCTV recordings showing the incident that took place on April 7, the police report lodged by the director, as well as copies of the receipts and car booking documentation.
In the video, the assailants, some armed with what seemed to be baseball bats and car steering wheel locks, can be seen threatening the staff, ransacking the office and carting away boxes and other goods.
A company staff interviewed by Malaysiakini said one of the men had a handgun tucked in his waistband.
"He had a gun, but he only pointed at it (he did not draw out the weapon)."
The company director was also shown being manhandled, thrown against a pillar, beaten and kicked by the assailants, in addition to being forced to sign a letter.
She explained that the customers were upset that the used car dealership took too long to heed a Consumer Claims Tribunal order to reimburse its non-refundable booking deposits.
This was because the bank loans the customers had qualified for fell short of the price they had agreed for the purchase of the used cars. Being unable to pay the difference, they were forced to cancel their purchases.
The receipts and booking agreements signed and agreed to by both parties state that deposits are non-refundable - but the customers insisted on repayment and took the matter to the tribunal, which ruled in their favour and instructed the company to pay up.
'Company has right to appeal'
The receipts and booking agreements furnished to Malaysiakini state that the deposits paid for the purchase of the used cars are "non-refundable", with the signatures apparently inked by the customers.
Though conceding that the company may have been late in reimbursing some of the deposits as ordered to by the tribunal, the company director justified this on grounds that some of the tribunal rulings were made ex-parte - without their presence - and the company was in the process of appealing the decisions.
"It is our right to refer back tribunal decisions made under Form 8, without our presence at the hearing. Only decisions made under Form 10 are those where we are called to present our defence."
She also argued that even for decisions heard before the tribunal with both parties present, the company still had the right of appeal to the High Court.
The company director described the attack as unlawful and criminal.
"They have no right to take action against me, no right to ransack and rob my company. Even with late payment, only a magistrate can take action," she lamented.
As a result of the attack and threats made against her company, she said her staff - most of whom are women - were severely traumatised and now fear for their safety.
A police report has been lodged on the matter and the director claimed that until now, after more than two weeks have passed, no action has been taken by the authorities.
When contacted by Malaysiakini, the police officer in charge of the case confirmed that a report had been lodged and that the matter was under investigation.
He however declined further comment on the case because the "investigation is still going on".
"He had a gun, but he only pointed at it (he did not draw out the weapon)."
The company director was also shown being manhandled, thrown against a pillar, beaten and kicked by the assailants, in addition to being forced to sign a letter.
She explained that the customers were upset that the used car dealership took too long to heed a Consumer Claims Tribunal order to reimburse its non-refundable booking deposits.
This was because the bank loans the customers had qualified for fell short of the price they had agreed for the purchase of the used cars. Being unable to pay the difference, they were forced to cancel their purchases.
The receipts and booking agreements signed and agreed to by both parties state that deposits are non-refundable - but the customers insisted on repayment and took the matter to the tribunal, which ruled in their favour and instructed the company to pay up.
'Company has right to appeal'
The receipts and booking agreements furnished to Malaysiakini state that the deposits paid for the purchase of the used cars are "non-refundable", with the signatures apparently inked by the customers.
Though conceding that the company may have been late in reimbursing some of the deposits as ordered to by the tribunal, the company director justified this on grounds that some of the tribunal rulings were made ex-parte - without their presence - and the company was in the process of appealing the decisions.
"It is our right to refer back tribunal decisions made under Form 8, without our presence at the hearing. Only decisions made under Form 10 are those where we are called to present our defence."
She also argued that even for decisions heard before the tribunal with both parties present, the company still had the right of appeal to the High Court.
The company director described the attack as unlawful and criminal.
"They have no right to take action against me, no right to ransack and rob my company. Even with late payment, only a magistrate can take action," she lamented.
As a result of the attack and threats made against her company, she said her staff - most of whom are women - were severely traumatised and now fear for their safety.
A police report has been lodged on the matter and the director claimed that until now, after more than two weeks have passed, no action has been taken by the authorities.
When contacted by Malaysiakini, the police officer in charge of the case confirmed that a report had been lodged and that the matter was under investigation.
He however declined further comment on the case because the "investigation is still going on".
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