KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: A brief kiss shared with a married ex-flame almost cost a salesman RM3,600 ($1,500).

The 30-year-old man was, however, spared from paying the money to the woman's husband after he sought the help of MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong.

Chong said the victim, who only wanted to be known as Yee, from Sentul here, had sought his help recently.

"He told me that the incident happened last month, after he met his 26-year-old ex-girlfriend, whom he had befriended six years ago.

"The couple broke up four years ago, but recently met again. On that day, he had gone to the woman's house in Sentul, became emotional and kissed her," Chong said yesterday.

According to Yee, the woman did not resist his advances. He left the house minutes later.

A few days later, the victim received a call from a man claiming to be the woman's husband.

"The man told Yee he knew what the latter had done to his wife and demanded RM3,600 to hush up the matter. He told the victim to watch out if he refused to pay."

When Yee asked the man for proof, he claimed he had closed-circuit camera television footage of the incident.

The victim claimed he did not know the woman was married.