THE 13-year-old was home alone when loan sharks came, splashed coffee on the door and locked up the flat.

And that left Ng Wei Zhi locked inside his flat for more than five hours.

The Secondary 1 student had returned from lunch at a relative's house around 1pm on Wednesday.

He was using the computer in the living room of the four-room HDB flat in Block 708, Bedok Reservoir Road, when the loan sharks arrival, around 2pm.

"I heard some noise outside the flat and looked through the peephole. But I didn't see anyone and I didn't open the door," Wei Zhi said.

It was only when his mother returned from work around 6.30pm that she found the wrought-iron grille gate locked with a bicycle chain.

His father, Mr Ng Cheng Heng, 46, a marketing executive, said: "My wife called me and I called the police immediately."

Mr Ng rushed home and when the police arrived, they helped to break the chain lock.

Mr Ng is now so worried for his only son's safety that he has sent him to stay with his aunt for the time being.

"It's the school holidays now and I don't feel it's safe for my son to stay home alone during the day when my wife and I go to work," he said.

"On Tuesday, loan sharks splashed black paint on a neighbour's door."

Mr Ng, who said he does not owe loan sharks money, believes it is a case of mistaken identity.

He said he has seen the unit number of another neighbour written on the walls at the staircases and inside the lifts.

"It was written 'owe money, pay money' together with the unit number," Mr Ng said in Mandarin.

"I hope the loan sharks would leave the neighbours alone and I hope the police can help."

The New Paper team approached the flat owner who is believed to owe the loan sharks.

The middle-aged woman, who declined to be named, said: "My husband did borrow from loan sharks
but we cleared the debt more than five years ago.

"I don't know why they keep harassing my neighbours. Now when I see my neighbours, I feel very malu (Malay for embarrassed)."

Another neighbour, who wanted to be known only as Mr Tan, said: "These loan sharks always come near the end of the year. Last year, my door was splashed with red paint while I was watching Crime Watch in the living room.

"They probably want to create unhappiness among the neighbours, but we have been neighbours for so long. I won't blame my neighbour. I know they also feel very bad about it."

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