Suspect in MH370 ATM scam identified

PUTRAJAYA: The main suspect, who allegedly withdrew RM111,000 from the bank accounts of four passengers of the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 plane, has been identified by the police.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the suspect, who made the fraudulent withdrawals, is believed to be an employee of that bank.
It is believed that the money was illegally transferred by the employee and the withdrawals were done in stages over the past five months.
Initial investigations found that the money from three MH370 passengers' bank accounts were transferred via online banking to the fourth account and accumulated in that fourth account. The withdrawals were made later via ATM machines in Klang Valley from the fourth account.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Tajuddin Md Isa said an officer at the bank had noticed a sum of RM35,000 was transferred from the fourth account to another individual's account.
"The transaction was made via online banking on July 14 but police are still investigating this fifth account. This fifth account involves a different bank," he added.
It is believed that the 32-year-old bank employee, who approved the fourth victim's ATM card renewal application, was being investigated by the police.
All the four bank accounts belong to two passengers from China, Ju Kun and Tian Jun Wei, a Malaysian passenger Hue Pui Heng and the other account MH370 steward, Tan Size Hian.
Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zainuddin Ahmad said so far investigations did not show that any international syndicates were involved.
"We are still investigationing... only one local bank has lodged a police report," he added.
Meanwhile, Tan's wife, Elaine Chew Oai Poh, 35, said she was still waiting to hear from the police and bank on the matter.
"I did not check my husband's bank account as it is private and confidential. I asked the bank officers and they said that the bank is still being investigated in this case," said Chew.