30 lodge reports against developer

The Star 06/05/ 2001

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 30 purchasers of houses at a project at the 18th kilometre, Jalan Cheras, lodged police reports against the developer yesterday for allegedly cheating them of their deposits.

They were among 107 buyers, who had paid a 10% deposit about six years ago for single-storey link houses at the housing project.

The reports were lodged at the 14th kilometre Cheras police station at about 3.45pm.

Hulu Langat OCPD Asst Comm Zakaria Abdul Hamid confirmed the reports had been made, and added that police would investigate the matter under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

Earlier, the group gathered at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor House Buyers Association in Jalan Barat, Petaling Jaya.

The association's secretary-general Chang Kim Loong said it had forwarded a memorandum to Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk M. Kayveas last Friday on the matter.

He added that a meeting with Kayveas had been scheduled for Tuesday. The housebuyers have also formed an ad-hoc committee to bring the matter to the authorities.

Its chairman, Loh Choon Aun, 47, said attempts to locate the developer had been futile. "We have run out of patience. We hope the relevant authorities will assist us," he said.

Another housebuyer, John Sackis, 43, said he had signed a sale and purchase agreement with the developer on July 12, 1996 and paid RM8,000 as deposit.

"Since then, nothing has come out of it. Every time I contacted the developer, I was given various excuses and told work would commence soon.

"Recently, another developer called us for a meeting and told us to revoke the earlier agreement as they were willing to take over the project.

"But we were asked to pay an additional RM40,000 to get the same house, which is beyond our means," he added.

"We have run out of patience. We hope the relevant authorities will assist us," he said. Another housebuyer, John Sackis, 43, said he had signed a sale and purchase agreement with the developer on July 12, 1996 and paid RM8,000 as deposit.

"Since then, nothing has come out of it. Every time I contacted the developer, I was given various excuses and told work would commence soon.

"Recently, another developer called us for a meeting and told us to revoke the earlier agreement as they were willing to take over the project.

"But we were asked to pay an additional RM40,000 to get the same house, which is beyond our means," he added.