Find a Lawyer for Your 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. You want to talk to a lawyer, not read another explanation of the section. You can choose to have that conversation in Mandarin, Cantonese or English.

The aim is to get you to a lawyer, with your facts, your family and your language all part of the first conversation.

What does Section 424B cover?

Section 424B applies when someone hands control of their own account to another person, for example an ATM card, an online banking login or a one-time password, without lawful authority or lawful purpose. ^[f1] The penalty is a fine of RM10,000 to RM100,000, 1 to 7 years jail, or both.

It can apply even if you never touched the money that went through the account. That can surprise people who thought they were just helping someone.

Can you talk to a lawyer in Mandarin?

Explaining a criminal case in your second language adds pressure you do not need. If Mandarin or Cantonese is easier for you, say so in your first WhatsApp message and ask to be referred to a lawyer who speaks it.

This also helps when a parent or older relative is involved. When the lawyer explains things to the whole family in one language, there is less confusion later.

What if you only helped someone else?

It is easy to think Section 424B applies only if you used the money yourself. It does not. The offence is about handing over control of your own account, whoever moved the money through it. ^[f1]

What you knew, what you were told at the time (a job, a favour or an investment) and why you agreed matter to your defence. The bare fact that the account changed hands is not the whole story.

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

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

To check which section fits before you get in touch, see our Section 424B explainer. For more on what a lawyer’s review of a case covers, see our Section 424B lawyer page.

What happens to your account?

A 424B investigation can come with a frozen account, sometimes before anyone tells you which section applies. Police can freeze an account and block transactions at once under CPC Section 116D, without a court order. ^[f4]

If the freeze comes from an AMLA enforcement agency under Section 44, it ends after 90 days if you are not charged. ^[f7] A seizure order lapses if the person is not charged within 18 months. ^[f5]

Can you get bail?

Section 424B is bailable, like 424A and 424C, so bail is a right once you are charged. The court or police set the amount and conditions. ^[f6] Our bail process guide explains what a bail application involves.

How does the WhatsApp message work?

Send a short message on how your account got involved, what you were told at the time and what stage you are at. Say if you or your family would prefer Mandarin or Cantonese.

Where appropriate, we can help connect you with an independent lawyer, who can explain your situation. If your questions go wider than 424B, our page on consultation confidentiality covers how a lawyer handles what you tell them.

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)