P.M. BRIEFING : Fraud Sets Malaysian Record

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia —  A young bank executive broke into his bank’s computer security system and stole nearly $1.5 million in Malaysia’s biggest case of computer fraud, police said today.

The executive attracted suspicion when he bought a red Lamborghini, three Porsches and a Mercedes-Benz, the New Straits Times daily newspaper said, citing police and banking sources. It said the arrest was made last week.

Police confirmed that they had seized luxury cars the 24-year-old man had purchased. His identity was not disclosed.

Shamsuri Arshad, deputy director of the criminal investigations department of the federal police, said bank employees and other potential witnesses were being interviewed.

Banking sources said the executive was employed in the bank’s foreign exchange section. He apparently cracked the bank’s computer security system and transferred the money from the accounts of several clients into his own personal account, they said.