KUALA LUMPUR: The passing of amendments to the law with the aim of clamping down on the use of mule accounts for illegal activities is a positive measure towards effective enforcement on scam cases, says Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf.
The Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director said the amendments will ensure stiffer action against various parties involved in online scams including masterminds and mule account holders.
"We welcome the development as previously there is no specific legislation to punish culprits involved with mule accounts.
"We are confident the amendments will provide a new landscape for enforcement of commercial crimes," he said when contacted on Saturday (July 13).
Comm Ramli said under the amendments, several new sections – 424A, 424B, 424C and 424D – were included under the Penal Code for offences related to payment instruments or accounts at financial institutions.
“For example, the new section 424A seeks to provide for the offence and penalty for possession or control of any payment instrument of another person or any account of another person at a financial institution without lawful authority or lawful purpose.
"Those found guilty could face a fine of between RM5,000 and RM50,000, imprisonment of between six months and five years, or both upon conviction," he said.
Comm Ramli said a new section, 116D, was also passed under the Criminal Procedure Code, which would empower a police officer not below the rank of sergeant to seize or prohibit dealings involving money held or suspected to be held in any payment instrument or account at financial institutions.
"The police officer can act if they have reasonable cause to suspect that an offence has been committed if the money has been used or is intended to be used to commit an offence or if the money constitutes evidence of an offence," he said.
The amendments were debated by 21 MPs before being passed at the Dewan Rakyat recently.
