Bangladesh Police Say Some Bank Officials Involved In CyberheistBangladesh Police Say Some Bank Officials Involved In Cyberheist

A top Bangladesh police investigator, Mohammad Shah Alam, has said some mid-ranking officials of Bangladesh Bank had deliberately exposed its network, thus creating vulnerabilities and allowing hackers to steal $81 million, says a Reuters exclusive. Alam also said a probe was on to ascertain the link between the hackers and the officials and whether the latter benefited financially from the heist.

Another investigator revealed around 100 bank employees had been questioned and some told not to leave the country. Last week, a Bangladesh probe panel said five bank officials were found to be indirect accomplices, adds Reuters.

These developments come after months of blame game between the bank, US Fed Reserve and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. in the Philippines into which the stolen money was transferred.

In February this year, cybercriminals had attacked Bangladesh’s central bank at the US Fed and wired out $81 million through fake SWIFT transfer messages.

Alam added that arrests were likely soon.

Read details on Reuters.