KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 – Two officials with Lembaga Tabung Haji were today charged in the Sessions Court with accepting bribes and altering computerised data from Muslim pilgrims under a controversial “haj express” scheme.

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

His colleague in the research and development department, clerk Roslan Mohamed Som, was charged with taking RM6,750 in cash from 27 Muslims to fast-track their application to perform the haj in Mecca two years ago.

Both pleaded not guilty.

Afizul, 34, faces up to seven years behind bars and can be fined RM100,000 if convicted under Section 5(1) of the Computer Crimes Act 1997.

Roslan, 47, is accused of accepting money from a go-between named Samsudin Ibrahim at Jalan Raja Muda Musa in Kampung Baru here between 3.30pm and 4pm on July 15, 2010.

If found guilty, he could be jailed up to 20 years and fined five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher, under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.

Afizul and Roslan were unrepresented.

Trial judge Rozilah Salleh fixed for the case to be mentioned again on February 23 pending the appointment of their counsel.

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