Former mosque officer gets jail for pocketing over S$13,000 in ‘zakat’ donations

A person who was hired by a dome to handle gifts from the general public took the money for himself otherwise.

Muhammad Hafiz Mohd Yusof, 28, was sentenced to eight months ‘ jail on Tuesday ( Aug 13 ).

He admitted criminal to three counts of unlawful breach of trust while employed, with additional three other fees being taken into account.

The prosecutor was informed that Hafiz worked at the mosque’s 2 Serangoon North Avenue 2 as a alms commander.

He was given the task of obtaining alms bills from mosquegoers. According to Zakat. The Muslim community contributes to a portfolio called alms for the bad and the needy.

Muslims may pay for alms in cash at the minaret, with Hafiz required to provide a computer-generated receipt to the payors before keeping the money in a safebox.

If there were mistakes, Hafiz was instructed to get the payors ‘ receipts, vacuum them, and indicate this in the program, before issuing a new certificate with the right information.

In April 2022, a believer went to the mosque to make zakat payment, handing over S$ 5, 100 ( US$ 3, 873 ) in cash to Hafiz.

He issued a request for S$ 5, 100 to the sufferer, but afterwards voided it and registered the transaction as S$ 100 otherwise, pocketing the remainder.

He repeated this numerous times, stealing a full of S$ 13, 514 in alms money for his own private use.

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore ( MUIS ) discovered irregularities in six receipts of payments a few days before August 8, 2023, which Hariz voided.

Studies revealed that the actual payment made were significantly higher than the sums stated in the new records Hafiz had issued.

He was the subject of a police statement.

The attorney sought nine to 12 months ‘ prison for Hafiz, noting his “protracted and follow upsetting” that went on over more than a year.

Hafiz made a written appeal for calmness in judge, but he made no statements.

District Judge Kok Shu-En told him during sentencing that he should take into account that the crimes you have committed are critical because you are struggling financially and that you want me to take this as your first offense.

The prosecutor continued:” And I’m certain you appreciate this more than I do, the value of the cash you took. These were zakat cash, not merely interpersonal monies that people used to make purchases. And you did n’t just take it once or twice, you did it over a period of time, over and over again”.

She expressed her sincere hope that Hafiz will turn the page and do what he said in his reduction request.

” I sincerely hope you will do that,” You are also fresh, there’s a long road ahead of you”, she said, allowing him to postpone his prison term to September.

He may have faced a 15-year prison sentence and fine for a legal breach of trust as an individual.