KUALA LUMPUR: Two former top officials of Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here to a charge of cheating the institution’s board members over a proposal to readjust property investment values linked to a RM3.3bil hibah payment.
Former chief financial officer Datuk Rozaida Omar, 63, and former chief executive officer Datuk Seri Johan Abdullah, 70, claimed trial after the charge was read out to them before judge Norma Ismail yesterday.
The two were jointly charged with cheating the board members by preparing and presenting a work paper that contained the proposal of readjusting property values involving three buildings – TH Platinum Park, TH Perdana and TH Selborne – whereby the readjustment was made to increase the profit for TH in its pre-audited financial report for the year ending Dec 31, 2017.
This was for the purpose of a hibah payment to TH depositors totalling RM3.3bil, despite both Rozaida and Johan knowing that the properties should have been valued lower in the market and their deception caused the board members to approve the work paper, including the property value readjustment.
The offence was allegedly committed at Menara TH Tun Razak, Jalan Tun Razak here between 3pm and 10.30pm on Feb 9, 2018.
They were charged under Section 417 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, which provides for a maximum five-year imprisonment, a fine or both, upon conviction.
The court allowed bail at RM60,000 in one surety each. The case is fixed for mention on Dec 8.
Deputy public prosecutors Datuk Nazran Mohd Sham, Rohaiza Abd Rahman and Siti Aina Rodhiah Md Shikh appeared for the prosecution.
