KUALA LUMPUR: Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code and Penal Code, which came into effect on Oct 30, will lead to a more focused prosecution of those involved in financial crime, especially money mules or mule account holders, says Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf.

The Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director said a more focused prosecution means authorities no longer have to rely on Section 29(1) of the Minor Offences Act.

[Section 29(1) outlined offences related to fraudulent possession of property.]

“The amendments are also expected to curb the activities of money mules, whose number has increased beyond 200,000 thus far.

“Nowadays, money mules not only consist of individuals but also syndicates operating under the guise of legitimate companies or enterprises,” he said when contacted yesterday.

According to Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran, the amendments meant that the police are now empowered to seize and block financial assets associated with online fraud cases.

Kulasegaran told the Dewan Rakyat on Monday that the laws are now focused on establishing offences related to online mule accounts.

The amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code and the Penal Code were passed in the Dewan Rakyat in July.

Among others, a new Section 16D has been added to the Criminal Procedure Code, which grants police officers ranked sergeant and above the power to seize or block such funds held in payment instruments or accounts at financial institutions.

Comm Ramli said the amendments will also prevent the public from letting others use their bank cards even on a supposedly temporary basis.

“In fact, efforts are being made to impose criminal liability on anyone who recruits others to open bank accounts which are eventually used as mule accounts,” he said.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/11/20/code-amendments-put-money-mules-in-crosshairs