Kuala Lumpur Commercial CID Chief ACP Izany Abdul Ghany said they received a report from BNM about a 61-year-old insurance agent, who wanted to change 102 damaged RM100 notes.

“The woman claimed the money was damaged in a washing machine that caused the colour to fade. Feeling suspicious, BNM informed the police.

“Following interrogation on July 14, police inspected a house in Section 7, Shah Alam, and a box containing more than 5,000 pieces of black paper ‘black money’ together with a liquid to ‘clean’ the money were found,” he said at a press conference here today.

Izany said it was believed the woman’s counterfeit money came from an African man that police suspect is a syndicate member.

“The investigation is still ongoing and whether she was directly involved with the syndicate or had been misled by the syndicate is still being investigated,” he said.

Izany said the case was being investigated under Section 489C of the Penal Code for possession of counterfeit money, and a 10-year prison sentence if convicted.