Petaling Jaya, 20th January 2025 - They were supposed to ensure their clients' best interests, but some rogue lawyers have swindled 167 of them to the tune of RM160.1 million in the last four years.

Since 2021,113 men and 54 women have been cheated by such lawyers, be it in managing their funds or through property deals, said Director of Commercial Crime Investigation Department, CP Dato’ Sri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf.

“In 2021, we recorded 39 cases of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving lawyers, with losses reaching RM56.3 million, followed by 30 cases with RM11.7 million in losses in 2022 and 35 cases in 2023 involving RM29.7 million in losses.

"Last year, 62 cases were recorded - the largest amount of losses so far in a year at RM62.8 million.

"‘As of January 15, a case with RM92,000 in losses has already been recorded.

"So, in the last four years, losses involving crooked lawyers have reached RM160.19 million,” Dato' Sri Ramli told The Star yesterday.

Dato’ Sri Ramli said the police have detained 53 lawyers involved in CBT since 2021.

Read futher on The Star's article attached.