KUALA LUMPUR: Recent amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and Penal Code are expected to curb the activities of mule account holders, says Bukit Aman.
Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said officers and personnel would be better able to trace individuals and entities operating mule accounts.
"The amendments will prevent individuals from 'lending' their bank accounts to others.
"Based on our records, account holders give various excuses when their accounts are used for scams but with these amendments, the people cannot easily let their bank (facilities) be used by others, even if it is supposedly temporary.
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"In fact, efforts are being made to impose criminal liability on those who recruit others to open bank accounts (intended to) be used as mule accounts," he said when contacted on Tuesday (Nov 19).
Police are now authorised to block transactions or seize funds suspected to be linked with financial crimes, such as mule accounts, the Dewan Rakyat heard on Monday (Nov 18).
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran said recent amendments to the CPC and Penal Code, enforced on Oct 30, empower the police to not only seize financial assets but also block further transactions.
