Man seeking loan to help family ends up as account mule

KUALA LUMPUR: A man who sought a loan to help pay for his mother and sister's cancer treatment said he was under immense pressure after becoming an account mule.

Clerk Mohd Izzuddin Juppri, 38, claimed he became an account mule after seeking a RM10,000 loan in February 2020 to cover treatment costs for his mother and sister, both of whom were diagnosed with breast cancer.

He said the lender required him to surrender his bank card as a condition for securing the loan.

Izzuddin said he never received the money and decided to block his bank account a month later, only to discover five suspicious transactions.

"Four transactions involved licensed moneylending scams, while another involved a car sale.

"Three cases have been resolved, while two remain pending action by the authorities. My account has been frozen by the authorities, and I cannot open a new one.

"I hope the remaining cases can be resolved soon and, if possible, the investigations coordinated. I hope to open a new account afterwards," he said, adding that his sister died in March.

He was speaking at a press conference with the Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO), which submitted an appeal to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail at Bukit Aman yesterday, calling for authorities to consolidate related cases and conduct comprehensive investigations.

Another victim, who wished to be known only as Amy, 43, claimed she was also caught up in the scheme after taking a RM5,000 loan last year to ease her husband's financial burden amid the high cost of living in the capital.

However, she said her attempt to help her family turned into a nightmare when the bank card she surrendered was used for account mule activities, resulting in her being implicated in five cases.

She was also detained in a lock-up in Perak and subsequently suffered panic attacks.

"I have four cases in Perak, Pahang, Negri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur, and another in Batu Pahat, Johor.

"I have had to spend money to attend court proceedings and visit police stations in different locations.

"This has changed my life, including my relationship with my husband, as we argue frequently. I sincerely hope the authorities can help us," she said.

MHO secretary-general Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim said the organisation was representing 24 account mule victims who were deceived and exploited, resulting in their bank accounts being used for transactions linked to scams and commercial crimes.

He said they were appealing to the Inspector-General of Police to review and coordinate related cases comprehensively to ensure justice for all parties.

"MHO hopes a comprehensive and coordinated review can identify links between police reports, prevent overlapping investigations and help authorities track down the masterminds behind the scams.

"We want firm action against the actual scammers, while those who may have been deceived or exploited should not continue to bear severe consequences without a fair assessment of the facts, their knowledge and their actual involvement," he said.