JEMPOL - A Laletha, 41 has been facing sleepless nights since her 18-year old daughter went missing over a month ago and is concern about her daughter's safety.
On April 3. Laletha said M Tavanes Vary, fondly known as Tava was at her flower shop in Pekan Bahau while she was out delivering flowers nearby.
"When I returned from my errands, my eldest informed me that Tava was missing. It seems an individual had asked Tava to come and see our dog behind the store building, but she never returned.
"Although our dog was still there, Tava was nowhere to be found. We immediately lodged a police report on the same day as we were concerned for her safety.
"Today marks one month and seven days since she went missing, we are not at peace,” she said when met by reporters here on Tuesday.
She added that her family has been searching for her daughter and are constantly worried about the fate that might have befallen their youngest child of two.
"We continue our search, our tears fall on every meal we ate. We don’t know whether Tava ate and if she is healthy,” she said.
Laletha said she was disappointed that an unidentified individual was taking advantage of their distress by asking for money in return for information on the whereabouts of Tava.
"In the same month, I received a phone call from a man claiming to know my daughter’s whereabouts but with a RM10,000 upfront for the information.
"The caller did not provide any evidence that he had my daughter and only demanded money," she said adding that she was filled with disappointment and frustration with such threats.
Laletha revealed that her daughter's disappearance was not the first time it had happened. On March 13, she had gone missing before and was found in Kulai, Johor three days later, apparently taken there by an unknown person.
She appealed to the public to help locate her daughter as all their efforts has led to dead end so far.
Tava was last seen wearing dark blue shorts and a red long-sleeved shirt. Those with information could call 012-6677250 or 013-2228460 or inform the nearest police station.
Jempol district police chief Superintendent Hoo Chang Hook said the police received a report on the missing person and the extortion attempt made towards the family.