Bukit Aman: Man arrested for hacking, selling data of gov’t agency

KUALA LUMPUR: A man with expertise in information technology has been arrested on suspicion of hacking and selling data belonging to a government agency on the Dark Web website.

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the 24-year-old man was arrested here on Dec 25 last year.

Speaking at a press conference on Jan 4, he said police investigation found that the man had sold data on the website for US$200 (RM927) for each data set and that payment was in the form of cryptocurrency.

“We successfully traced the man thanks to the efficiency of the CCID Cryptocurrency Crime Investigation Unit.

“The investigation also found that the suspect was just ‘dabbling’ in this crime and does not have any criminal record,” he said.

Ramli said the man was released on police bail on Dec 29 and the case was being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Computer Crimes Act 1997.

Meanwhile, police investigated four cases of criminal breach of trust involving RM9.7mil in zakat collection, with two cases in Selangor and one case each in Terengganu and Perak throughout 2023.

“The Perak case recorded the highest loss at RM9.6mil. In this case, the company appointed as a zakat collection agent by the Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council is suspected of having failed to deposit zakat collection money from March to September 2023.

“The case was investigated under Section 409 of the Penal Code. It is very disheartening when zakat money is also misappropriated by the individuals entrusted to collect the money,” he said.

“Zakat collection money should be properly managed in accordance with the requirements of the religion.

“CCID gives a stern warning to the perpetrators that firm action will be taken to ensure that this kind of crime does not happen again,” he said. – BK