PETALING JAYA: MBSB Bank Bhd says it is collaborating with the authorities to ensure a swift and thorough resolution of the case of illegal withdrawals at a bank in Kota Kinabalu.

It said its priority is security and the trust of its customers.

“We are working closely with the authorities to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

“We have refunded all monies illegally withdrawn from the affected customers’ accounts,” it said in a statement yesterday.

MBSB Bank said the incident allegedly involved a syndicate that colluded with certain staff members, now in police remand, to carry out the illegal withdrawals authenticated through forged identity cards used by the syndicate.

“MBSB Bank is committed to maintaining the integrity of banking security for all our customers and will continue to work with the police and relevant authorities to ensure that those involved face the full consequences of their actions,” it said.

The statement came after police arrested 13 people, including four bank employees, in connection with millions of ringgit that vanished. One of those arrested is a bank manager.

Arrests were mostly made in Kota Kinabalu with one suspect caught in Padang Besar, Perlis.

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the suspects, linked to the siphoning of millions from a bank, targeted their victims based on insider information.

The group stole the money in stages after they had identified high-value account holders.

“The money was taken out via the bank counter and the first one was conducted around April.

“Several more (withdrawals) were done in May and June.

“With inside help, the money was taken out according to bank procedures. The case only came to light after an account holder went to the bank to update their details,” he told a press conference last Friday.

Comm Ramli said it was possible that syndicate members who were working in the bank also directly facilitated the transactions.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/06/25/bank-working-with-authorities-to-bring-down-syndicate