SWIFT, others blamed in full probe of BB heist

A government-formed committee found global financial network SWIFT and others responsible for the Bangladesh Bank heist in its full report submitted today.

Dr Farashuddin, former governor of the central bank, handed the committee's full report that hold "drastic changes to its entire" to Finance Minister AMA Muhith.

Farashuddin, head of the body that probed the USD 101 million cyber heist, told reporters that they found SWIFT among others "responsible" for the heist.

Full contents of the committee's report and recommendations could not be known immediately. However, ministry officials said the probe will be made public by mid June.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith declined to comment on the findings of the report before the media, but said it contained some "very important" information.

The report itself is drastically different, according to Farashuddin. "The preliminary report that was filed before was submitted in haste. This report is around 90 percent changed."

Earlier on May 15, Farashuddin pinned blames on SWIFT saying its platform was compromised and changes it made to the system was not communicated with Bangladesh Bank officials.

Since unknown hackers pulled off the history's biggest cyber heist on February 4, the Brussels-based SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) has repeatedly maintained that its core message system with the BB was not compromised.

READ MORE: "SWIFT IS RESPONSIBLE"

The preliminary probe findings were filed to the government on April 20. Now, the final report carries 95 percent change from the preliminary report.