Member of Terengganu royal family sues two banks over nearly RM2 million in missing savings

KUALA TERENGGANU: A 65-year-old member of the Terengganu royal family, Tengku Ismail Tengku Ibrahim, has taken legal action against two banks in an attempt to recover nearly RM2 million in savings that were allegedly lost due to unauthorized transactions between September and December of the previous year. The lawsuit was filed on October 8, with case management scheduled for October 14 and 19.

Tengku Ismail discovered the missing funds in early January while checking his accounts at a bank counter, where he found an account balance of RM73 and another with RM99. He believed the money had been withdrawn in small amounts through repeated transactions until almost all of his savings were gone. After seeking explanations from bank staff, Tengku Ismail hired a lawyer to send formal letters to both banks, seeking further clarification on the transactions.

However, he has yet to receive a satisfactory explanation about how the money was transferred out of his accounts. The disputed transactions are believed to have occurred in stages between September and December of last year, with losses totaling RM1,985,065. Tengku Ismail's lawyer, Alif Danial Ahmad Shahrulnizam, said the transactions involving one account were believed to have taken place between September and October 2025, while those involving the other bank began around September of the same year.

Alif Danial stated that his team had previously contacted both banks to seek clarification, but they decided to proceed with legal action after receiving unsatisfactory responses. The claims include the recovery of the funds and other related damages, as the substantial financial loss has caused his elderly client anxiety and trauma. Police are also investigating the case, and the lawyer is awaiting further developments.