Mule Account Lawyer in Malaysia

Who is this page for?

You are probably here because something has happened to your bank account, or someone has contacted you about it. The words “mule account” or “akaun keldai” have come up. This page covers three situations, and yours may overlap.

Your account may have been flagged or frozen, with no arrest and no statement yet. Or you may have been asked to give a statement at a police station or a CCID office.

Or you may already be arrested or charged under Sections 424A, 424B or 424C of the Penal Code. A mule account lawyer can help in all three, but the right first step is different in each.

What does a mule account lawyer do?

A lawyer should not promise you an outcome. Their job is to tell you clearly where you stand and what options the law gives you.

If your account was only flagged or frozen, the lawyer asks what you know: which bank, the reference number, and whether police have contacted you. If you were called in, the lawyer explains what a statement involves and what you must and need not answer.

If you were arrested, the lawyer can act on remand and bail. For these offences, remand is up to 4 days at first and 3 days more on a second application, and bail is a right, with the court or police setting the amount and conditions. The lawyer can also start building your defence.

What are Sections 424A, 424B and 424C?

The 2024 Penal Code amendments created three offences for mule account cases. Which one applies to you changes what your defence looks like.

Section 424A is holding or controlling someone else’s account without lawful authority: a fine of RM5,000 to RM50,000, or 6 months to 5 years jail, or both. ^[f1] Section 424B is giving control of your own account to someone else without lawful authority or lawful purpose: a fine of RM10,000 to RM100,000, or 1 to 7 years jail, or both. ^[f2]

Section 424C, the most serious, is 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]

Under the 2024 amendments, a police officer of Sergeant rank or above can also freeze an account and block transactions at once under CPC Section 116D, with no court order needed. ^[f4] A freeze can be the first sign of a case, before police contact you.

How does the WhatsApp message work?

You do not need a full case file before you write. Send a short message: when you noticed the freeze or flag, what your bank told you, and whether police have contacted you.

Where appropriate, we can help connect you with an independent lawyer, who may ask follow-up questions. The lawyer can then explain what may be happening, which section may apply and a sensible next step. Whether to go further is your decision.

How can you check if your account is flagged?

If you are not sure your account has been flagged as a mule account, PDRM’s Semak Mule portal lets you check. Over 190,000 accounts have been flagged. ^[f5] Checking first helps you describe your situation, but you do not have to do it before you get in touch.

Can you get a lawyer in any state?

Yes. Police stations and CCID units all over the country investigate mule account cases, not only in Kuala Lumpur. Whether your case is in Johor Bahru, Penang, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu or elsewhere, the WhatsApp process is the same.

If your case is in Kuala Lumpur or the Klang Valley, our KL-specific page explains how it works there. If your account was frozen for a wider reason, such as an AMLA or Bank Negara freeze, see our frozen account lawyer page instead.

What happens after your first message?

The lawyer should explain your situation plainly. If you decide to go ahead, the lawyer explains what hiring them involves and the next steps, such as collecting bank statements or preparing for a statement.

Police detected 46,048 mule accounts in 2023 and 50,295 in 2024. ^[f6] A clear first conversation helps you understand where you stand.

When should you get in touch?

Once you know something is wrong with your account, or police have contacted you, waiting can cost time. A flag or an investigation may not go away on its own, and delay leaves your lawyer less time to prepare.

If you are unsure what to do right now, our what to do now guide lists the first steps to take. When you are ready, a short WhatsApp message is enough to start.

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. Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Semak Mule Portal