Two Lembaga Tabung Haji personnel were charged at the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today with altering its database and receiving a bribe, respectively.       

Information Technology Department systems analyst Afizul Md Yasin was charged with three counts of tampering with the contents of the pilgrims’ database, two years ago.  

Whereas Research and Development Department clerk Roslan Mohamed Som, was charged with receiving RM6,750 cash, in return for organising the pilgrimage of 27 ineligible individuals in 2010.    

Afizul, 34, and Roslan, 47, pleaded not guilty before Judge Rozilah Salleh.

Afizul allegedly accessed the database without authorisation and entered 27 pilgrims’ names on the 13th Floor of the Tabung Haji Head Office in Kuala Lumpur, between 10.55am and 11.10pm in June and July 2010.      

He faces a maximum imprisonment of seven years, or fine of RM100,000 or both upon conviction, under Section 5(1) of the Computer Crimes Act 1997.     

Roslan allegedly received the money from a go-between, Samsudin Ibrahim, at Jalan Raja Muda Musa, Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur between 3.30pm and 4pm on July 15, 2010.

He faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment and five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction, under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.  

MACC DPP Zulkarnain Hassan requested a bail of RM30,000 with one surety for each accused and applied for their passports to be impounded.  

“The bail is commensurate with the seriousness of the offence because it has tarnished Tabung Haji’s image and I apply for both cases to be tried together,” he said.

Judge Rozilah set bail at RM20,000 with one surety for both and ordered their passports to be impounded.  

Afizul and Roslan were unrepresented and remention was fixed for Feb 23 pending their appointment of counsel.  

- Bernama