Loan sharks target woman's family after she owes $200k, send warning photos of 7-year-old niece

A woman implicated her sister’s family after failing to pay back loan sharks about $200,000.

Instead of going after her, the loan sharks targeted her the debtor’s family, even stalking her 7-year-old niece and sending threatening photos of the girl.

The 42-year-old single mother and her son, 18, stayed with her sister and her family for about 10 years. 

The debtor’s sister's family comprises of six members including her children, her son-in-law, and two granddaughters, aged 17 and seven.

Her children told Lianhe Wanbao in an interview that their aunt, a gambling addict, owed loan sharks about $200,000 due to her constant borrowing.

The threats issued by the loan sharks, in turn, cause the entire family to live in constant fear.

One of the children who identified himself as Mr Zhang said that the loan sharks first showed up at their door on Chinese New Year looking for his mother.

They asked her:

“Do you still want your sister?

“If you do, pay up!”

After that, a group of them continued showing up the house. 

Left with no other options, the family asked the debtor and her son to move out.

They also paid the loan sharks about $80,000 on her behalf.

Despite the duo moving out, the loan sharks continued to harass the family and even started spying on Mr Zhang and his sister who run a curtain shop in Bedok. 

A few months ago, the loan sharks took a photo of the family to assert their threats.

Madam Zhang said that the loan sharks would take photos of her family members, even her seven-year-old niece attending school.

The loan sharks also left two cans of red paint outside their house and sent the family crude text messages, as well as videos of people committing acts of vandalism and arson.

Mr Zhang said he is most worried about his family members’ safety and has lodged a police report.

He clarified on the matter, saying that the family has been unable to contact his aunt for the past two weeks.

Hence he and his sister called the police. 

In response to media queries, a police spokesman confirmed it has received two calls on the case, and it is under investigation.