IPOH: For opening multiple mule bank accounts, a man ended up going in and out of jail between 2018 and 2023, spending more than a year imprisoned in total.
Lee Chin Yiew, 44, said he had wasted a lot of his life and regretted being too trusting.
The odd-job worker said a friend, known as Ah Fatt, had introduced him to a man called Sunny in 2018.
“Sunny told me about a money-making opportunity, which sounded too good to pass up considering my low and unstable income stream, mainly from handing out flyers.
“I would get RM500 every month if I agree to open bank accounts. I got RM1,200 from Sunny after opening the bank accounts,” said Lee, adding that he was told to open accounts with three different banks.
Lee said a few months later, policemen came knocking at his door and accused him of being involved in a scam.
“I was brought to the Kajang police station, locked up and then charged in court before being sentenced to three months in jail,” he said, realising then that his bank accounts were being used as mule accounts.
Lee was charged in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023 for opening the mule accounts and was subsequently sent to prison in a different state each time.
“The first time was related to a cheating case in Kajang, the second one in Pahang, followed by the third time in Terengganu and lastly, in Kelantan,” he told a press conference organised by Perak Barisan Nasional public service and complaints centre chief Mohd Rawi Abdullah here yesterday.
“It was so scary and lonely in jail. After I got out of prison from the first case, I was prepared to be jailed again,” he added.
After being released, Lee tried to call Ah Fatt and Sunny to get an explanation but could not reach them.
“I then lodged a report against both men. I managed to close the accounts at two of the banks but was not given any reason why I was unable to close the account at the third bank,” he said.
Lee said he had checked with the police last year to see if there were still any cases linked to his mule accounts.
“There were no new ones and I felt a bit relieved. It has been a painful experience as I cannot find any new jobs to do and am back to distributing flyers.
“I have also been blacklisted by banks and cannot open any more personal accounts.
“I asked for this press conference to warn people to be careful and not to do what I did,” he said.
Mohd Rawi said scam syndicates often target the unemployed, senior citizens or low- income earners.
“They will bring them to banks to open accounts for scams, gambling activities and even money laundering activities.
“I urge banks to do background checks before allowing anyone to open an account.
“Get to know where their income is coming from or if a third party asked them to open the account,” he added.
