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KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 21 black sheep in the legal fraternity are being sought by police who were allegedly involved in 39 criminal breach of trust (CBT) and cheating cases involving RM30.4 million.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Zakaria Ahmad said of the amount eight were to be charged for their crimes, while the rest are needed to facilitate investigations.
“Checks with the Immigration Department revealed five have fled the country while 16 are still believed to be here. These lawyers have been disbarred by the Bar Council, which means they can’t practice anymore,“ he said at a press conference at the Federal CCID headquarters today.
Mohd Zakaria said in some cases, the lawyers aged between 34 and 69, handled property purchases for their clients.
He said the CBT cases were recorded from 2012 to 2019.
“Selangor recorded the highest number of cases with 21 involving RM7 million, followed by 11 cases in Kuala Lumpur involving RM17 million and three in Johor involving RM4.4 million.
“The police already screened these lawyers and all of them are not staying in their recorded address. We hope these people will come forward and facilitate the probe under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and Section 409 of the Penal Code for criminal breach of trust,“ he said.
Meanwhile, police are also looking for 117 suspects involved in loan shark cases nationwide.
“These suspects are still at large and arresting them will help us solve many pending cases, ” he said.
Mohd Zakaria said there are over 1,890 unsolved loan shark cases since 2017.
He said “Op Vulture” was launched last month in an effort to curb illegal money lending.
Mohd Zakaria said 700 money lending businesses were inspected during the operation and 231 individuals were arrested. — Bernama
