malaysia Tan Kok Guan, a resident of Malaysia, presented the latest example of what the greed for money cannot make a person do. 52 year old Guan took such a step to recover a huge amount of Rs 1 crore 91 lakh from the insurance company, which surprised everyone. Guan, unemployed and a father of three, injured his left eye himself in a bid to secure his future. But his cleverness backfired when the insurance company filed a case of fraud against him.
Incident Details: How did all this happen?
The incident took place on 8 June 2023 in Kampung Paya area of ​​Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. Guan intentionally damaged his left eye and claimed RM1 million (approximately Rs 1.91 crore) from the insurance company. This incident, which took place between 9 am and 6 pm, came to light after a thorough investigation.
Guan claimed it was an accident, but the company became skeptical of his claim. After this, the matter was thoroughly investigated and it was revealed that it was a well-planned plan. The company booked Guan under Section 420 of the Malaysian Penal Code and other relevant sections.
Court hearing: what happened next?
Tan Kok Guan went on trial in the Penang Magistrates Court on 30 December 2024. Guan denied all charges and pleaded innocent.
Lawyer’s side:
Guan’s lawyer argued in court that his client is unemployed and suffering from serious health problems. Guan has no permanent source of income and the entire responsibility of the family falls on his wife.
The lawyer said Guan should be released on minimum bail as he is fully cooperating in the investigation. He also said that in addition to heart disease and stroke, Guan is also suffering from disability.
Court’s decision:
However, the court refused to grant bail to Guan. The judge scheduled the next hearing for February 2025, keeping in mind the seriousness of the case and possible fraud.
World of Insurance Fraud: Is this the first incident?
This case is a great example of human greed. However, this is not the first time that people have gone to such lengths to get insurance money. Many such cases have come to light before:
- Fake Medical Bill Fraud in India:
People make insurance claims by making fake bills from hospitals. Such incidents are becoming common, where hospitals and patients work together to cheat companies. - Attempt to make suicide look like an accident:
Many times family members try to prove suicide as an accident so that they can get money from the insurance policy. - Big fraud cases in America:
In America, a person tried to make an insurance claim by burning his own car. However, the matter came to light during the police investigation.
Necessary steps to avoid such fraud
Responsibility of insurance companies:
- Companies should investigate the claim thoroughly.
- Fraud should be stopped by adopting technical and digital measures.
Legal Reforms:
- There should be provision for strict punishment in such cases.
- The court should conduct a speedy trial and punish the culprits.
social awareness:
- It is important to make people understand that it is not right to risk life due to small greed.
- Change can be brought in the society by running education and awareness campaigns.
Greed always has bad consequences
This case of Tan Kok Guan teaches us a great lesson that greed always has negative consequences. This incident also proved that it is difficult to escape from the law. All eyes are on the next hearing of this incident and its outcome.