How Long Does the Investigation Take?

How long does the investigation take?

There is no fixed length. It depends on how complex the case is, how many accounts are involved and what the evidence shows.

Mule-account cases are investigated by the police Commercial Crime Investigation Department, known as JSJK ^[f2]. They follow the facts, so two cases can move at very different speeds.

The 18-month legal limit

The investigation has no set length, but some orders do. Under AMLA section 52A, a seizure order lapses 18 months after it is made if no one is charged or prosecuted ^[f1].

Courts treat this limit as real. In Lim Hui Jin v CIMB Bank Bhd & Ors [2018], the Court of Appeal applied it when the limit was 12 months; it has been 18 months since 1 March 2026 ^[f3]. That is why you should note the date your freeze began.

What can make an investigation take longer

Cases with several linked accounts, transfers between different banks, or transfers overseas can be slower, because each bank may need to reply before the file can move on.

Cases that involve other bodies, such as Bank Negara Malaysia or a foreign bank, can add more waiting time.

What to do while you wait

Do not plan around a promised date. No one can honestly promise an exact finish date.

Keep your own record. Note the date your account was frozen, keep any letter or SMS from the bank, and write down the date and result of every call to the investigating officer (IO) or the bank. This shows you responded promptly and gives your lawyer a clear timeline.

If the freeze affects your rent, loan payments or children’s school fees, tell your lawyer early. They can judge whether to apply to release part of the money for these costs.

Do not open new accounts or have money paid through someone else’s account to get around the freeze. During an investigation this can look suspicious and may slow things down.

If you hear nothing for months

Silence does not mean something bad is happening. Officers may be working in the background, checking bank records and contacting others in the chain of accounts.

If months pass with no update, you can politely ask the police station handling the case for news, or ask a lawyer to do it. A lawyer can also watch the 18-month deadline and decide when to apply to release your money or challenge the freeze.

Sources

1. https://www.lawnet.com.my/amla-2001
2. https://www.rmp.gov.my/
3. https://www.lawnet.com.my/