KUALA LUMPUR: Police are investigating the theft of over RM2 million from the savings account of a bank customer in Kuala Kangsar, Perak.
Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said a staff of the bank was believed to be involved.
He revealed that although the prime suspect committed suicide on July 5, police were continuing their investigation into the case.
Ramli said police received a report on July 9, after a bank customer discovered more than RM2 million missing from his savings account.
Ramli said an initial investigation revealed that a staff of the bank was suspected to be involved.
He said the complainant, an employee of a local bank, had informed the authorities that an employee at the same bank had misappropriated funds by transferring money from customers' fixed deposit accounts to a third-party account.
"This misconduct by the employee was uncovered when two fixed deposit account holders came to the bank on June 27 to withdraw funds.
"However, it was found that portions of their fixed deposit accounts had been closed, but the customers denied making these closures or withdrawing funds from their fixed deposit accounts," he said at a press conference here today.
Ramli said that based on the bank's investigation, it was suspected that an employee made the unauthorised withdrawals and deposited them into several different accounts.
The employee, who was also the main suspect in the case, committed suicide on July 5.
Ramli said that despite the main suspect's death, investigations into the case would continue under Section 408 of the Penal Code.
Meanwhile, police have welcomed suggestions by Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying that banking institutions should conduct detailed investigations into unauthorised banking transactions.
"There have been media reports where victims of account fraud claimed to have been taken by syndicate members to several banks to open accounts (mule accounts) without any verification by bank officers.
"There were also bank officers who colluded with syndicate members to facilitate the opening of dubious accounts by individuals claiming to be company owners, allowing fraudulent funds to be channelled into those company accounts," he said.
Ramli added that under the new provisions, which will be enforced soon, police will also investigate and prosecute bank officers involved in syndicated fraud activities.
Police have also suggested that banks strengthen their internal banking systems as a precaution to ensure the interests of customers are always safeguarded.
