A DIRECTOR of a travel agency was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today with advertising haj package services using furada visa (private haj visa) without having a licence from Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) in May.

Agus Rizal Mat Ali, 50, a director of UC Travel Sdn Bhd, was charged with advertising haj package services using furada visa for the season 2022M/1443H on the company’s Facebook page, claiming that he could organise travel for the purpose of pilgrimage to the holy land while the company did not have a haj operator licence from TH.

Rizal is alleged to have committed the offence at his office at Platinum Walk, Jalan Langkawi 2, Danau Kota, Kuala Lumpur on May 9.

The charge was framed under section 27(1)(b) of the Tabung Haji Act 1995 and punishable under section 27(2) of the same law, which provides for a maximum fine of RM100,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or both, if convicted.

In the proceedings before judge Kamarudin Kamsun, deputy public prosecutors Nur Aqilah Ishak and Hanis Anisha Jamilludin prosecuted while Rizal, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by lawyers Datuk Dhanaraj Vasudevan and Ho Cheng En.

The court allowed bail of RM50,000 in one surety and fixed September 8 for mention.

On August 2, the media reported that 132 police reports related to cases of fraudulent packages for performing haj and umrah using furada visas were lodged as of July 31, involving losses of more than RM5.6 million.

Royal Malaysia Police secretary Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin said 336 victims were involved. – Bernama, August 9, 2022.