Borrowing from loan sharks often has dire consequences, including threats and harassment. This was the tragic reality for 27-year-old Malaysian man, He Wen Jie, whose debt spiraled out of control, eventually driving him to take his own life.
Following his death, his family endured even more torment as loan sharks continued their harassment, even resorting to arson.
From Financial Struggle to Tragedy
He Wen Jie, who was working in Singapore, borrowed $500 from a loan shark to cover his daily expenses.
What seemed like a manageable debt soon escalated, as the loan sharks began using aggressive tactics to enforce repayment.
Found Out About Victim’s Debt Through Facebook
According to China Press, on December 17, 2024, Wen Jie’s younger brother came across a Facebook post from a loan shark revealing his brother’s debt.
Concerned, the younger brother alerted their father, Mr. He, about the situation. Mr. He then reached out to Wen Jie, who confirmed borrowing the money.
“My son told me that he had indeed borrowed $500 from a group of loan sharks in Singapore and that the money was for daily expenses. As for the others claiming to be debt collectors, they were all scammers.”
Trusting his son’s judgment and believing he could manage the issue on his own, he chose not to intervene further.
Loan Sharks’ Threatening Phone Calls
However, by December 19, loan sharks began calling Mr. He directly, demanding repayment of debts. When Mr. He tried to contact Wen Jie, his calls went unanswered.
The Final Days of Wen Jie
On December 20, Mr. He reported that the loansharks warned him that Wen Jie would “commit suicide” if the debt wasn’t settled.
After losing contact with his son, Mr. He reached out to Wen Jie’s roommate, who informed him that Wen Jie had left their shared accommodation at 4:00 PM and never returned.
Singapore police later confirmed that Wen Jie had left the country.
The family’s worst fears were realized on December 21 when they were notified by a funeral service provider that Wen Jie had fallen from a building in Johor Bahru and succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, NST reports.
Arson Attack Captured on CCTV
The family’s ordeal did not end with Wen Jie’s death. On January 18, 2025, at around 4:56 PM, CCTV footage shared by Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng on X, captured a man, believed to be associated with the loan sharks, committing arson at the He family’s home in Desa Jaya, Kepong, Malaysia.
The video showed the suspect approaching the gate, pasting a piece of paper onto it before lighting an object—likely a Molotov cocktail.
The suspect then threw it into the house, causing a fire.
After igniting the flames, the suspect fled the scene, but not before taking a photo of the fire.
Additionally, according to Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, two police reports have been made regarding this incident.
Relentless Harassment After Victim’s Death
Despite Wen Jie’s tragic passing, harassment from the loan sharks continued. Mr. He reported receiving harassment and threatening phone calls daily.
Mr. He described his son as quiet and honest. Despite the loan sharks’ claims that his son owed them money, they never provided any evidence.
The harassment persisted even after Wen Jie’s death, further intensifying the family’s suffering. “We just want peace,” he said.
A Plea for Justice and Peace
On January 21, 2025, the He family, with the assistance of Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, held a press conference to make a public appeal.
They emphasized that their son had already passed away and called for the loan sharks to stop harassing their family.
“We’ve already lost our son. Please stop tormenting us,” he said.
Watch the video here:
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