Technician held over cloned cards

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested a technician believed to be the mastermind in cloning and distributing Astro smart cards in the city. 

City Deputy CID chief ACP Syed Ismail Syed Azizan said the 32-year-old man was picked up at a car park in front of a bank in Jalan Ampang following a tip-off. 

The man led police to an apartment at Venice Hill Condominium and Golf Resort where 15 cloned Astro smart cards, two smart card readers and a laptop used to manufacture the cloned cards were found.  

ILLEGAL GOODS:ACP Syed Ismail showing the cloned Astro smart cards seized from anapartment in Kuala Lumpur.

“The cloned cards were sold for RM450 each and must be 'renewed' annually with the syndicate. 

“Based on our investigations, we found that about 50 cards had been sold last month,” ACP Syed Ismail told reporters. 

“The public are advised not to buy or use cloned cards. Under Section 236 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, offenders can be fined a maximum of RM500,000 or jailed for five years or both,” ACP Syed Ismail said. 

Anyone with information on such syndicates or individuals can contact Chief Inspector Mamarul Hasnan Muhammad at 03-2146 0620. 

Last week, Selangor police uncovered a syndicate producing and distributing cloned Astro smart cards after its members and a buyer were arrested in Puchong. 

The syndicate member was striking a deal with the buyer when police ambushed them.