TAPAH, Nov 5 — A loan of RM2,000 could have led to the brutal death of Ng Ah Leng.

Ng Chee Meng@Kurunadan, 47, believes his brother Ah Leng could have been murdered after he loaned money to a mechanic, who together with his son, are now at the centre of the gruesome murders of four people.

Chee Meng, who sold prayer items, and his sister Ng Uma Devi, 36, said they had not met their brother for about three years. Ah Leng was the third sibling among his five brothers and sisters.

They said the victim had worked for the suspect for about four months before he went missing.

Uma Devi said the family had tried to contact their unmarried brother several times but to no avail.

“At first, no one picked up the call but a year later, someone answered saying we got the wrong number.

“The suspect called me repeatedly, saying my brother had been absent from work for a long time. The suspect said my brother had just run away,” she said.

An emotional Chee Meng, when met at the crime scene, said: “He won some money in a lottery and had loaned RM2,000 to the suspect but the debt was never repaid.”

Chee Meng said he only realised his brother was linked to the case after police requested his blood sample for DNA testing.

Chee Meng said he knew the suspect when he sold spare parts in Kampar.

“He (the suspect) had a workshop and that was how we got acquainted. There was nothing unusual about him. We spoke about nothing else but business.”

Chee Meng described his brother as a quiet and loving man.

“He was softhearted and trusted people easily. He wasn’t the outgoing type but once he liked you, he will be very friendly.”

“The DNA test results have not returned. We are all distraught. We cannot accept the way he could have been killed ... it is so cruel.”