KUALA LUMPUR: Members of a syndicate that withdrew RM24.2 million from several savings accounts were paid hundreds of thousands of ringgit to facilitate the withdrawals of money.
Investigations revealed that members were paid between RM100,000 and RM240,000 for their various roles in the case.
Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the syndicate made four withdrawals involving RM3.5 million, RM5.7 million, RM6 million and RM9 million.
"Our investigations revealed the syndicate had hatched the idea to make these withdrawals since early last year.
"We also found that one of the members of the syndicate had resigned from a bank and joined another bank with the intention to facilitate these transactions," he said today.
He said they made their first withdrawal in April this year followed by another in May.
"Syndicate members who worked in the bank helped to modify the biometric data and images of the account holders so that the transactions would be successful without raising alarms.
"Their activities were only uncovered when one of the four account holders came to the bank to update his fixed deposit account details," he said, adding that further investigations revealed that the syndicate mastermind was also involved in withdrawing RM551,000 from another bank early this year.
Ramli said to date, police have arrested 14 suspects and seized nine vehicles, while also recovering RM1.93 million.
"Further investigations revealed that the mastermind had experience in the use of biometric systems that were used by the bank," he said.