After borrowing for ex-fiance, woman on the run from 38 loan sharks

 

Rohani (left) says she borrowed about RM1,000 each from 38 Ah Longs she found through an app.

KUALA LUMPUR: After being duped by her former fiance, Rohani (not her real name) lived on the run from 38 moneylenders over various loans made under her name.

The 21-year-old was left with debts amounting to more than RM30,000 by her ex-fiance. She had found most of the moneylenders through an application, borrowing about RM1,000 from each of them.

“From the first time I met him, it was like I was paying off most of his debts. But when things got better for him, he forgot who helped in his time of need.

“Now, when I’m in a spot, he doesn’t help. When I’m being harassed by the Ah Longs, he says it’s easier to just borrow money from other Ah Longs,” she told FMT at a shelter here.

Rohani said most of her savings had been spent by her former fiance, who lodged a police report alleging that she owed him some RM38,000 and that they had broken up their engagement, although they had not at the time.

“I was so affected by that because what he said in his report was wrong. I could not understand why he would do this to me after all I’ve done to help him,” she said in between sobs.

She said she kept holding on to their relationship in the hope that he would change. But things soon got worse, with her own family being threatened and forced to bear his debts.

Rohani eventually succumbed to depression.

Her parents sent her to the shelter while they worked to pay off her debts.

Rohani (second from right) and friends at the shelter.

“It was like after my family helped to settle one debt, I go and cause more problems for them. So when my father decided to send me here, I accepted it with a willing heart.”

She said she was worried for her family’s safety, after the loan sharks had threatened to harm her mother in the past.

“Those feelings usually hit after the Asar prayers, I would start to think about my mother. Sometimes before I sleep at night, I keep wondering if my family is safe.

“Two or three of them (moneylenders) had threatened to come to the house, lock the doors, and beat up my mum,” she said.

Despite what she has gone through, Rohani is determined to take this second chance at the shelter to change with the help of the wardens and fellow residents. - FMT