KOTA KINABALU: A local man who leased out his bank account to a scam syndicate has been sentenced to three years’ jail in Lahad Datu, Friday (Aug 28).
The 28-year-old had been arrested after a total of RM92,000 were transferred to his bank account, before the money was forwarded to other parties.
The Lahad Datu Sessions Court sentenced him after he pleaded guilty to directly or indirectly engaging in any transaction using own account or payment instrument at a financial institution without a lawful purpose.
Prior to that, the Lahad Datu police had opened up investigations on an online scam case, involving a fake agriculture department officer who allegedly offered a non-existent solar supply project to a victim, which required payments for it to proceed.
The victim had paid a total of RM92,000 in six transactions to a bank account, which belonged to the local man.
The Lahad Datu police advised the public to be wary of scams and to not be used as account mules.
They also warned against revealing or sharing bank account information to anyone, especially to unknown and unauthorised persons.
Mule account holders can be jailed between three and 10 years or fined at least RM10,000 and up to RM150,000, or both, upon conviction.
