(Bandar Seri Begawan, 10th) — A Malaysian man has been sentenced to six years and eight months in prison for participating in a cross-border criminal scheme, abusing debit cards to make unauthorized ATM withdrawals.
The Attorney General’s Chambers and Royal Brunei Police Force recently issued a joint statement, noting that the defendant, Tian Lixing (transliteration), pleaded guilty to five charges on June 18. The charges are under Section 10 of the Computer Misuse Order, read with Section 3(1), and punishable under Section 9 of the same law.
Magistrate Mohamad Kamarul Afian Abdul Rahman delivered the verdict on July 1.
An investigation by the Cybercrime Division of the Criminal Investigation Department, Royal Brunei Police Force, found that the defendant acted under the direction of an unidentified individual in Malaysia.
The defendant collected multiple debit cards in Brunei and then passed them on to other individuals involved in the criminal scheme.
These debit cards were subsequently used to illegally access ATMs and withdraw funds from the associated bank accounts, resulting in losses totaling $8,480.
The banks involved provided investigators with account and transaction records to assist in tracing the unauthorized withdrawals and confirming the identities of those involved.
The magistrate pointed out during sentencing that the defendant's role in the case was neither accidental nor minor, as he was responsible for collecting and handing over the debit cards, enabling other participants to carry out the unauthorized transactions.
The court noted that although the crimes did not involve sophisticated technologies, the cross-border actions of the participants showed a certain level of coordination and organization.
The magistrate also emphasized that such crimes undermine public confidence in the security and legitimate use of electronic banking facilities, as lawful banking tools are misused as instruments for illegal transactions.
Given the defendant’s significant role in the entire criminal scheme, the court gave considerable weight to general deterrence in sentencing.
The Attorney General’s Chambers and Royal Brunei Police Force recently issued a joint statement, noting that the defendant, Tian Lixing (transliteration), pleaded guilty to five charges on June 18. The charges are under Section 10 of the Computer Misuse Order, read with Section 3(1), and punishable under Section 9 of the same law.
Magistrate Mohamad Kamarul Afian Abdul Rahman delivered the verdict on July 1.
An investigation by the Cybercrime Division of the Criminal Investigation Department, Royal Brunei Police Force, found that the defendant acted under the direction of an unidentified individual in Malaysia.
The defendant collected multiple debit cards in Brunei and then passed them on to other individuals involved in the criminal scheme.
These debit cards were subsequently used to illegally access ATMs and withdraw funds from the associated bank accounts, resulting in losses totaling $8,480.
The banks involved provided investigators with account and transaction records to assist in tracing the unauthorized withdrawals and confirming the identities of those involved.
The magistrate pointed out during sentencing that the defendant's role in the case was neither accidental nor minor, as he was responsible for collecting and handing over the debit cards, enabling other participants to carry out the unauthorized transactions.
The court noted that although the crimes did not involve sophisticated technologies, the cross-border actions of the participants showed a certain level of coordination and organization.
The magistrate also emphasized that such crimes undermine public confidence in the security and legitimate use of electronic banking facilities, as lawful banking tools are misused as instruments for illegal transactions.
Given the defendant’s significant role in the entire criminal scheme, the court gave considerable weight to general deterrence in sentencing.