By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Dec 6: To date, 73 victims have come forward reporting losses exceeding RM11 million, all linked to the same Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) officer implicated in an investment fraud case, said Michael Kong Feng Nian.
In a statement, Kong, who is the special assistant to Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen, said that the alarming number raises serious questions about internal controls and oversight within the bank.
“We have been informed that the officer in question is currently under remand until Dec 8,” he said in a statement.
Earlier on, Kong said he accompanied some of the victims—Dr Alex and his wife, along with his sister—to the Tabuan Jaya police station, where they were requested to attend a police identification parade.
He said that the family collectively lost RM700,000 to a BSN officer who allegedly misled them into investing in a bogus financial product.
Kong also noted that many other victims were present, indicating that the same modus operandi was used in every case.
“We will continue to assist Dr Alex and his family, as well as the other affected victims, in every way possible to ensure they receive the justice and restitution they deserve.
“We also urge the authorities and BSN to expedite investigations, safeguard evidence, and ensure that all those affected are promptly compensated.
“At the same time, we will continue to monitor developments closely and stand firm with the victims in their pursuit of justice,” he said.
The case first came to light on Nov 28 when Dr Alex and his wife sought Chong and Kong’s help after their lifetime savings amounting to RM400,000 had allegedly disappeared following the withdrawal of their investments from a unit trust management company to reinvest them in a financial product promoted by the bank officer.
They said that the funds were transferred directly in cash within the bank’s branch, and the victims never handled any of the money themselves.
It was only when they were informed that the bank officer in question had been suspended from work over issues related to the same product that they became alarmed.
They then immediately checked with the bank, only to be told that no such account existed under their names and no funds had ever been deposited.
Since then, on Dec 4, it was reported that 11 victims have registered claims of similar fraud cases involving the purported BSN employee, with an estimated RM1.6 million reported to have been misappropriated and swindled from them.
On Nov 29, BSN assured that they will take full responsibility for the employee’s action and return the money upon conclusion of the investigation.
Later, on Dec 1, BSN clarified that all genuine investments in financial products promoted by BSN will only be carried out via debit and fund transfers, and that no cash is allowed to be involved.
BSN has since set up a special team stationed at BSN’s main office in Jalan Satok here to handle fraud-related complaints. — DayakDaily
