PETALING JAYA: The amendments which seek to increase penalties and punishments for mule account holders are “very welcome”, says Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf.
“We really welcome it. In fact, we have been pushing for it, and now, it is almost a reality,” said the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director.
“Currently, we do not have enough (laws) to tackle all these mule accounts.
“The amendments and additions to the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code will make our jobs and investigations easier in that we have special provisions,” he said.
Comm Ramli said investigations would be conducted thoroughly before any case is forwarded to the deputy public prosecutor.
He also said that these changes could serve as a stronger deterrent.
“We are viewing it positively that it will reduce the number of cases.”
As of June this year, the anti-mule account portal Semakmule recorded and listed 193,000 mule accounts and 164,000 phone numbers used by scammers since the portal’s inception in 2020, Comm Ramli said.
He added that the site also lists the names of shell companies which were used by scammers.
“It has listed 107 companies so far,” Comm Ramli added.
The proposed amendments to the law aims to clamp down on the use of mule accounts for illegal activities.
The said changes are seen as a measure to address the alarming rise in online financial fraud cases.
Those convicted under the new law could face fines of up to RM150,000 and 10 years in jail.
