KUCHING: The Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) has arrested a total of 1,221 individuals who acted as “account mules” by allowing their bank accounts to be used in cybercrimes.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri in a statement today, said the suspects were nabbed between January last year and September this year.
Out of the number, 914 have been charged in court for various offences for allowing their bank accounts to be used for criminal activities.
“The commercial crime trend in Sarawak, is now witnessing the increase of mule accounts being used by criminals to receive money and to commit fraud through online activities and social media.
“Police investigations found that individuals who allowed their bank accounts to be used by criminals, actually aware that they should not disclose any information on their bank account to any party,” he said.
Azman stressed that mule account holders and owners can be charged under Section 411 of the Penal Code for fraudulently receiving stolen property, which provides for a jail term of up to 5 years or a fine or both, upon conviction.
They can also be charged under Section 424 of the Penal Code for transferring or concealing property by dishonest or fraudulent means, which carries a jail term of up to five years or a fine or both, upon conviction.
Lastly, they can be charged under Section 37 (1) of the Sarawak Minor Offences Ordinance 1958 for having in possession or conveying anything reasonably suspected to be stolen or illegally obtained, which provides for a three-month jail term and a RM500 fine, upon conviction.
