MBSB Bank said it was actively collaborating with the authorities to ensure a swift and thorough resolution of the incident, in which a syndicate colluded with certain staff members to carry out illegal withdrawals.

The syndicate authenticated these illegal withdrawals with the use of forged identity cards, said MBSB Bank in a statement. The bank said the staff members involved were in police custody.

MBSB Bank said it is committed to maintaining its integrity and will continue to work with the police and relevant authorities to ensure that those involved face the full consequences of their actions.

“Our priority is the security and trust of our customers. We are working closely with the authorities to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice,” said the bank.

Last Friday, Bernama reported that police had detained 14 individuals, including four bank employees, to assist in the investigation into the fraudulent withdrawals of RM24.2 million from several fixed deposit accounts in Kota Kinabalu.

The police received four reports from account holders and bank staff in early June in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, after the victims noticed suspicious cash withdrawals from the fixed deposit accounts.

Bernama also reported that Bank Negara Malaysia had requested prompt refunds to all affected account holders.

The central bank said it takes a serious view of the incident.