THE penny stock debacle has cost many local investors dearly and left some facing legal action from brokers and banks determined to get their money.

Last month, three stocks in particular, Blumont Group, Asiasons Capital and LionGold, suffered big share price falls.

One analyst's estimate is that shareholders of the three firms notched up losses of almost $1.5 billion when trading restrictions were in place for two weeks.

One investor, who wanted to be known only as Joseph, forked out $120,000 of his retirement savings on 50,000 shares in mining firm Blumont when they were sky-high at $2.40 each just days before the stock crashed. Now his stake is worth only $5,850.

" I'm one of many saddened and disheartened investors who will have to live with this painful memory for a long time," he said.

" I hoped that (Blumont) would go beyond $3 with the company's diversified business on top of its investment in copper mining."

After strong rises in recent months, shares of the three counters tumbled on Oct 4, prompting the Singapore Exchange (SGX) to slap a suspension and then trading curbs on them. The restrictions were lifted last Monday, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore and SGX have started probing the trading activities around the stocks.

Some punters have used borrowed money from brokerages or banks to buy the shares and now have to pay up.

Sources say that many pledged their other stocks or secured bank overdrafts on their property for more credit. For those who have used homes as collateral, this means they have to find some way of raising funds to repay the overdraft, or risk losing the property.

Brokerages and banks typically give clients seven to 14 days to pay back money, and may act if they do not get the cash by then.

" Banks or stockbroking firms will at first issue letters to their clients to ask for repayment for any losses incurred," said Mr Chou Sean Yu, who heads the banking and financial disputes practice at law firm WongPartnership.

" They may give, say, (another) seven or 14 days. Clients who face difficulty in making payment would try to negotiate for more time," said Mr Chou.

" If the losses are substantial and the institution does not receive a positive response from the clients after this time period for payment, they may then proceed to file an action in court."

Industry players say that broking firms may also choose to go after the client's remisier, who act as guarantors for investors.

The Straits Times understands some lawyers have already been engaged by institutions seeking to reclaim money from their clients.

United States dealer Interactive Brokers Group recently said it has seven accounts of individuals with exposure to the penny stock crash, amounting to deficits of US$68 million (S$84.1 million). It has organised its legal team to collect its debts.