KOTA KINABALU: The Special Corruption Court here has discharged, but not acquitted, three family members facing charges linked to a gold mine operation in Bukit Mantiri, Tawau, on Thursday (Apr 24).
The accused are former Wullersdorf Resources Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Lo Fui Ming, his son, Lo Teck Yong, a former director of the same company, and daughter, Lo Choon Fung, a director of Southsea Gold Sdn Bhd.
Judge Jason Juga ordered all three to be released from their respective charges.
In the same case, Fui Ming, 69, faces 24 charges under Section 418 of the Penal Code for allegedly committing fraud while knowing it could result in undue loss to an interested party.
His son, Teck Yong, 43, has been charged with 24 counts under Section 109 of the Penal Code for abetting the offence.
They were accused of deceiving the Sabah state government, particularly the Lands and Surveys Department, by omitting the actual quantity of gold bars in invoices and production reports.
The gold was allegedly sold illegally to another company, resulting in losses exceeding RM1.3mil to the state.
If convicted, they could face imprisonment of up to seven years, a fine, or both.
Meanwhile, Fui Ming and Choon Fung also face four charges for using false documents as genuine.
According to the charge sheet, the two are accused of jointly using four forged letters under the name of Southsea Gold Sdn Bhd titled “Unauthorised Occupation of Southsea Gold Lease Land for Mining Operations” dated March 3, 2020, December 10, 2020, October 13, 2021, and January 3, 2022.
