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SINGAPORE - The ex-wife of the Singaporean man who was kidnapped and murdered in Johor Bahru revealed that he was a gambling addict who chalked up about $36,000 in debts and physically abused her.
In an attempt to repay his loans, he even asked her to become a prostitute, telling her that it was a job that paid well, Lianhe Wanbao reported.
Madam Lim Kum Hui, 54, was married to the deceased Mr Sim Chee Yong, 56, more than 30 years ago for a short three years. He later married a Malaysia woman, Madam Lim Chai Mooi, 50.
The ex-husband and wife later lost contact with each other, and Madam Lim Kum Hui only learnt of his death when the papers reported on the tragic events.
Mr Sim was kidnapped on Nov 26 in Johor Bahru and the kidnappers demanded a ransom of RM800,000 (S$330,000) from his family. The amount was reduced by half later on, but his family could not raise the sum and his dead body was found on Dec 1, two days after the final ransom call.
His body was found floating at a pier in Pasir Gudang at the Johor Strait. He was clad in a red shirt and blue jeans, with his hands and feet bound and head wrapped in four layers of plastic.
His wife told reporters that he sold Buddhist amulets at Jalan Wong Ah Fook in Johor Bahru. However, Malaysian police said he was a loan shark with nine previous criminal offences in Malaysia.
His ex-wife told the Chinese daily that Mr Sim behaved like a gangster, loved to create trouble and constantly had people "coming after him".
She described life with him as like being a "refugee" - always on the run with no home of their own. Once, they even had to run for their lives when they were on a movie date.
Madam Lim said the problem stemmed from his love for horse betting, which racked up loan shark debts of about $36,000.
She said she was just 19 years old and he 21 when he forced her to be his girlfriend.
He reportedly dragged her behind Geylang Community Centre and threatened to hit her, after she refused to go out with him.
Madam Lim said she had a poor relationship with her mother at that time, and a combination of confusion and fear made her leave home to be with Mr Sim.
Subsequently, she said he would beat her up once every two or three days. According to her, he had a terrible temper and would get easily jealous by her relationships with other men.
Madam Lim said life was "intolerable" with him, and she soon asked for a divorce. The couple did not have any children together. She has since remarried and has a son.
She told reporters that she wished him a good journey and hoped the Malaysian police will catch those involved, but that she would not be paying her respects.
