Malaysian police arrest 2 in connection with MH370 passenger bank thefts

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Malaysian police arrested two people on August 14 and are searching for a third suspect in connection with the alleged theft of money from the bank accounts of four people aboard missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

An HSBC bank officer and her husband are being held by Malaysian police since last Thursday. "We have extended the remand order for the two until Wednesday to facilitate the investigations," said Assistant Commissioner Izany Abdul Ghany of the Kuala Lumpur Commercial Crime Investigation Department.

The couple, along with a Pakistani national identified as Ali Farran, are accused of funneling $35,000 from four accounts belonging to two Chinese passengers, Ju Kun and Tian Jun Wei, and two Malaysians, Hue Pui Heng and flight steward Tan Size Hian.

HSBC's Malaysia Branch, which notified police of the potential fraud, issued the following statement:

"HSBC is deeply sorry for this incident and apologizes to the families of our customers for the distress this will cause and assures them there will be no losses on these accounts."

MH370 disappeared on March 8 while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.