Lawyer for a Section 424B Case

Who is this page for?

This page is for you if you are being investigated, or have been charged, under Section 424B of the Penal Code. That is the offence of giving control of your own bank account to someone else without lawful authority or lawful purpose. It covers this one section, not every mule-account offence.

Maybe you gave your account details for what looked like a job, a favour for a friend or an investment. The question now is how Section 424B treats what happened. Your defence is built on those facts.

What does Section 424B cover?

Section 424B applies when you give control of your own account to another person. That can mean giving them your ATM card, your online banking login or a one-time password so they can use the account. ^[f1] The penalty is a fine of RM10,000 to RM100,000, 1 to 7 years jail, or both.

How is 424B different from 424A and 424C?

Section 424A is the reverse: holding or controlling someone else’s account without lawful authority. ^[f2] Section 424C is the most serious of the three. It covers using an account for transactions without a lawful purpose, with 3 to 10 years jail, or a fine of RM10,000 to RM150,000, or both. ^[f3]

If you were controlling someone else’s account, our Section 424A page fits you better. If you are not sure which section applies, a lawyer can check before you act on the wrong one.

What matters in a 424B defence?

How and why the account changed hands can be the heart of the case. That includes what you were told at the time: a job offer, a request from someone you trusted, or pressure. It also includes any record of that exchange.

A lawyer reads your messages, screenshots and other evidence of how the arrangement started. That context shapes how the case is seen and argued. Our evidence preparation guide lists the documents worth collecting now.

Can you get bail for 424B?

Yes. Section 424B is bailable, like 424A and 424C, so bail is a right once you are charged. ^[f6] The court or police set the amount and the conditions.

Our bail process guide explains what a bail application involves. If you have already been arrested, our nationwide mule account lawyer page covers the steps from arrest to charge.

What happens to your account during the investigation?

A 424B investigation can come with a frozen account, sometimes before anyone tells you which section is involved. Under the 2024 amendments, a police officer of Sergeant rank or above can freeze an account and block transactions at once. This is done under CPC Section 116D, without a court order. ^[f4]

If the freeze comes with an AMLA order, a section 44 freeze lasts up to 90 days unless someone is charged, and a later seizure order lapses after 18 months if no one is charged. ^[f5] A lawyer can tell you which kind of freeze is on your account.

What does a lawyer do in a 424B case?

First, the lawyer checks that your case really is under 424B, not 424A or 424C. Then the lawyer looks at how the account was handed over.

Your defence is built on that story: for example, that you were misled, pressured or did not know the consequences. A lawyer will also tell you honestly what outcomes are realistic.

How does the WhatsApp message work?

Send a short message saying how your account got involved and what you were told at the time. Say what stage you are at: under investigation, called in for a statement, or charged.

Where appropriate, we can help connect you with an independent lawyer, who can explain your position and a sensible next step.

Sources

1. Low & Partners, “Keldai Accounts: When Helping a Friend Becomes a Criminal Offence” (2024)
2. Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2024, Sections 424A, 424B, 424C
3. Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Act 2024, Section 116D
4. Raj, Ong & Yudistra, “Unveiling the Mystery: When Your Bank Account Gets Frozen by the Law” (2024)