A retired technician only realised that his RM70,000 in bank savings missing when he went to withdraw money from the automated teller machine (ATM) today.

Having had his card rejected twice, Johari Che Ismail, 58, then sought an explanation from a bank officer.

He was told that his RM70,000 was gone after being transferred 69 times by an unknown person between March and October this year.

Johari told the NST that he had received RM123,000 from the government after retirement and had deposited RM70,000 into the bank in Permaisuri, Kuala Terengganu.

He had later lodged a report and the case has been referred to the Commercial Crime Investigation Division.

In August, some RM111,000 was withdrawn from the accounts of four passengers who were on board the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 aircraft.

This was discovered by the bank's manager after carrying out an internal audit.

The bank officer and her husband were later arrested in connection to the case.