Three Men Charged in Fake Quotation Scheme for Mosque Digitalisation Project

SINGAPORE – In a concerning case of alleged corruption, three individuals have been charged in connection with misleading quotations related to a digitalisation project for the revered Sultan Mosque. Central to this scandal is Mohamad Daud A Rahim, 60, who served as a director at Qirom Consulting and is accused of instigating two other directors to fabricate quotations intended to deceive the mosque into thinking they were valid competitive offers.

Daud, along with co-conspirators Mohd Nasir Mohd Sairi, 59, and Mohd Nasral Awang, 44, allegedly engaged in this fraudulent activity between August and October 2022. Nasir was a director at Fatiin Multimedia, and Nasral served as a director at Onaga Sys. According to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), these fictitious quotations were meant to create an illusion that both Fatiin Multimedia and Onaga Sys were ready to undertake vital digitalisation work for Sultan Mosque at the prices provided.

Details of the scheme reveal that on September 1, 2022, Nasir prepared a fabricated quotation of $24,900, which Daud then presented to the mosque's management. Shortly thereafter, on October 28, 2022, Nasral submitted another fabricated quote for $56,000, also on Daud's request. Each man faces multiple charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA), with potential penalties including substantial prison time and hefty fines.

Moreover, a fourth individual, Mohd Zairil Ismail, 53, has been charged with providing false information to a public servant and possessing pepper spray. According to reports, Zairil, a senior manager with the Mosque-Madrasah-Wakaf Shared Services (MMWSS), allegedly misled a deputy director of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) by denying any personal or financial interests in Qirom Consulting. This raises questions about his ties to the company, which the CPIB has not fully clarified.

The court documents reveal that the ongoing cases for Nasral, Nasir, and Zairil have been adjourned until January 28, 2025, with Daud’s case scheduled for mention on February 11, 2025.

In a public statement, Muis reiterated its commitment to upholding integrity, noting that while Zairil was not a Muis staff member, they expect high standards of governance from entities like MMWSS, which operates under their oversight.

As this grave situation unfolds, the consequences for those involved could be severe, with possible sentences reaching up to several years behind bars and significant financial penalties. This case serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for transparency and honesty, especially in public projects involving community institutions. Stay tuned for further updates as the legal proceedings continue!