The Alluring Facade of a Struggling Student
Lim Ee Lin, a seemingly ordinary 23-year-old college student, shattered the illusion of innocence. He stands accused of defrauding various Chinese non-governmental organizations (NGOs), individuals, and even a philanthropist, amassing a total of RM100,000 through his deceitful acts. This story exposes the manipulative tactics employed to exploit people’s kindness, highlighting the dangers of unchecked gambling addiction.
Crafting a Compelling Lie
Lim carefully crafted a persona to solicit donations. He claimed to be the son of a disabled father and a hawker mother, struggling financially. This facade, bolstered by his supposed acceptance into UUM (a prestigious institution with only 40% acceptance rate).
In a video, he described himself as a down-to-earth person. Like other people, if he needs something, he would work for it. He even bought his motorcycle through this means.
The Downward Spiral Fueled by Gambling
The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact and the 2022 World Cup became turning points for Lim. Introduced to online gambling, he was initially enticed by bonuses and early wins. However, the thrill of quick money soon morphed into a dangerous obsession. He spiraled deeper into online games, baccarat, and stock manipulation, fueled by a growing desire for ever-larger sums.
Penang China Press on 17 April 2024 reported, “He said that he was initially introduced by an internet celebrity and lured by the bonuses offered by online gambling, such as a deposit of RM1,000 and an additional RM300 in cash, as well as winning tens of thousands of ringgits from initial online gambling. He even won tens of thousands of ringgits in prize money, which gave him money to squander. After tasting the sweetness, he got deeper and deeper into the trap”.
He did not stop on one website. Instead, he gambled on multiple sites. This includes money games, baccarat (a card game usually played in casinos) and stock manipulation.
“I only gambled for fun before, but after the 2022 World Cup started, I gambled more and more without realizing it. I started to gamble excessively. After winning RM20,000 to RM30,000 in a short period of time, I started to be greedy and hoped to win RM50,000 from RM20,000 to RM30,000. I always wanted to win money in the gambling world.” He said according to Oriental Daily.
Getting RM20,00 in just two weeks and gaining RM30,00 on an RM2,500 bet caused him to go down further and faster into the rabbit hole. He spent most of his 2023 by gambling. And in May of the same year, he started to lose money bit by bit. This is when his mind became very confused and he started to skip classes.
The amount of money he won initially gave him some comfort he never had before so he started to take his girlfriend out to fancy restaurant. When asked about the source of his income, he answered that he got it from investment.
From Charitable Beneficiary to Deceptive Schemer
While Lim initially used donations responsibly, his mounting gambling debts (estimated at RM100,000) led him down a dark path. He began soliciting funds on Facebook, exploiting people’s compassion with fabricated stories about his financial struggles and educational woes. One of the charity organization called Qilixiang was named in the media as one of the organization that had helped him.
Unfortunately, these donations became his personal ATM, feeding his insatiable gambling addiction. Lim’s web of deceit eventually unraveled in the face of public exposure and media pressure.
He said, “I won RM50,000, but I started losing money in June and July last year. Thinking of the help I received from in March I started to get an idea of taking advantage of people’s kindness.” Forced to confront his actions, he issued apologies and returned some of the stolen funds. However, the damage was done. The community he exploited was left feeling hurt, betrayed, and wary of future pleas for help.
His Family Learned About His Activity
“My mother even knelt down and begged me to stop indulging in online gambling.”
He said after his parents learned about his gambling activity. The family forced him to pay everyone back. They even helped him to pay whatever he owes others.
To date he still owes RM40,000 in donations. After being exposed by the public and media, he apologised in a video. He, even, wrote a written statement in front of the police officers promising that he would not repeat his behaviour over again.
Then his news are buried in the background.
A Relapse Exposes Unrepented Deceit
Despite facing some consequences, Lim’s deceptive behavior continued. In October 2024, he targeted a cancer charity leader, Zuraini Kamal, with the same fabricated sob story and asked for RM5,000 in donation through Facebook.
Feeling pity over his circumstance, Zuraini contacted her friends over the same platform and provided them with the student’s bank account detail. Lim contacted her back within few hours stated that he managed to get RM1,176.
Fortunately, Zuraini, unlike previous victims, took steps to verify his claims. Contacting an NGO, she exposed his past deception.
“I then contacted a non-governmental organisation in Penang hoping they could also help, but their response surprised me greatly,” She said to news outlets.
The news of Lim’s scam tactics was revealed to her by NGO representative. They told her that they once collected RM30,000 before but it was used to fund his online gambling.
Threatened by Lim and his father, Zuraini reported the incident to the police, leading to his current detention. .”I asked him to return the money but the student and his father contacted me multiple times, more than 30 times, asking me to apologise and delete the Facebook post.”
A Community’s Disillusionment
Lim’s repeated acts highlight the anger and frustration within the Chinese community. The NGO representative’s response to his alleged suicide threat said, “Jika pelajar tu kata nak bxxxx diri, tanya dia kat mana? Boleh kita tolong hantarkan” (If the student intends to commit suicide, ask him where (he plans to do it)? We can give him a lift)—underscores the depth of their resentment.
Conclusion
This story serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing the importance of verifying information before donating. It highlights the dangers of online gambling addiction and its potential to corrupt even the most seemingly upstanding individuals. Lim’s case underscores the need for increased awareness of these issues and the importance of seeking help for gambling addiction before it destroys lives and communities.
Image— Huang Huiling/Sinchew
