KUALA LUMPUR: Police are investigating two cases of criminal breach of trust involving lawyers, resulting in over RM3 million in losses.
Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf confirmed that in one case, a 40-year-old company director reported that a lawyer, appointed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court to act as a temporary administrator for property owned by his late mother, had committed the offence on Nov 29.
"The man claimed that five unauthorised withdrawals, totalling RM2,072,708.25, were made from his late mother's bank account," he told reporters today.
The second case involved a 41-year-old man who filed a report in Petaling Jaya on Dec 8.
He claimed that he met an individual who promised to secure foreign loans for his company.
The man paid RM1 million to a lawyer introduced by the individual to facilitate a RM200 million loan.
"The man later contacted the lawyer for updates on the loan but received only various excuses. He also requested proof that the RM1 million was still in the client's account, but the lawyer refused to provide this," Ramli said.
Both cases have been classified as criminal breach of trust under Section 409 of the Penal Code.
Ramli said that criminal offences committed by legal professionals must be treated seriously, as they were trusted by the public to handle legal matters.
"The public entrusts these practitioners with their legal affairs, expecting them to protect their interests. Such betrayal of trust is unacceptable," he said, adding that the police were ready to support any initiatives from the Bar Council to address these issues.