Complainant
A complainant is the person who makes the police report that starts a criminal case.
Sources checked 2026-09-17
What is a complainant?
A complainant is the person who makes the police report that starts a criminal case. Their report is the first step that sets an investigation moving. In a mule-account case, the complainant can be the scam victim who lost money.
A report can be made in several ways, including the National Scam Response Centre hotline 997, which lets victims report and trigger urgent freezes. [f2] That report may be why an account is frozen and investigated.
How is a complainant different from a witness?
A complainant is not the same as a witness, though one person can be both. The complainant is the person who first reported the matter. A witness is anyone who gives evidence in court, such as the complainant, bank officers and the investigating officer.
Once a report is made, the Commercial Crime Investigation Department, the PDRM unit for these cases, investigates it. [f1] From then on the police and prosecution decide how the case goes, not the complainant alone.
Why does the complainant matter to you?
The complainant’s report can shape the whole investigation and be central to the prosecution’s evidence. Reports like these add up: police detected 46,048 mule accounts in 2023 and 50,295 in 2024. [f3]
Knowing what was reported helps you understand the case against you. A lawyer can read the report, explain the investigation and court process, and advise you on how to respond.
Sources
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How is a complainant different from a witness?
The complainant is the person who first makes the police report and sets the case moving. A witness is anyone who gives evidence in court. A complainant can also be a witness, but not every witness is the complainant. In a mule-account case, the complainant can be the scam victim who lost money.
Can a complainant withdraw their report?
A complainant can ask to withdraw it, but that does not automatically end the case. Once a report is made, the police and prosecution decide whether to go on. For a serious offence, the case can continue even if the complainant no longer wants to pursue it.
Why does the complainant matter in my case?
The complainant's report can shape the investigation and be central to the prosecution's evidence. Knowing what was reported helps you understand the case against you. A lawyer can read the report and the evidence and advise how to respond.
Related pages
If your situation is a little different, these pages cover the closest topics.
Need a Lawyer for Your Frozen Account Case?
Request Lawyer ContactFor people seeking legal representation. For general information, use our guides and tools.
Independent information resource, not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice. Where appropriate and with your consent, we can connect you with an independent lawyer. Availability and acceptance of a case are not guaranteed. How referral works