KOTA KINABALU: Two Sabah assemblymen and a businessman pleaded not guilty at the Special Corruption Court here on Monday (June 30) to charges of receiving and giving bribes totalling RM350,000 in relation to mineral prospecting licence applications.
Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob, Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, and Selangor-based businessman Datuk Albert Tei Jiann Cheing, 37, appeared before Judge Jason Juga to face separate charges under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
All three pleaded not guilty.
According to the charge sheets, Dr Yusof, 69, who is also the Qhazanah Sabah Berhad chairman, allegedly received RM200,000 in cash from Tei on March 6, 2023 at 2pm at a hotel restaurant, here, as an inducement to facilitate the approval of a prospecting licence for Nusa Kini Sdn Bhd to explore minerals in Sabah.
Meanwhile, Andi, 44, was accused of accepting RM150,000 in cash from Tei on May 12, 2023, outside his residence, here, for assisting with the prospecting licence application of Sinaran Hayat Sdn Bhd.
Tei was charged with giving bribes to both assemblymen in relation to the same licence applications.
The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutors Rustam Sanip, Nurul Izzati Sapifee and MACC prosecuting officer Rekhraj Singh while the assemblymen were represented by counsels Datuk Ram Singh, Rizwandean Bukhari M Borhan, Shahlan Jufri, Prem Elmer Ganasa and Datin Jaharah Patimbangi.
Edward Paul, Bartholomew Jingulam and Jul Hamri Junhani defended Tei.
If convicted under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009, they face a jail term of up to 20 years, and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Yusof and Andi were charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009 for accepting bribes, while Tei was charged under Section 16(b)(A) of the same Act for offering bribes.
If convicted, the charges carry a sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe.
Juga fixed Aug 5, 2025 for pre-trial case management and granted all accused bail.
The two assemblymen were each released on RM50,000 bail, with RM10,000 deposited under one local surety, for both charges. Tei was released on RM60,000 bail, with RM15,000 deposited under one local surety, for both charges.
They were also instructed to report to the nearest MACC office once every two months and to surrender their passport to the court.
All three paid the bail.
Tei was reported to be the businessman behind several videos exposing politicians allegedly involved in corrupt activities between 2023 and 2024, in exchange for assistance in processing mineral exploration licence applications.
Earlier, the three arrived at the courthouse within minutes of each other in the morning.
Tei was the first to enter the courtroom at 8.40am, accompanied by his legal team, followed by Andi at 8.46am and Dr Yusof at 8.48am.
All three were jointly charged with alleged offences committed in 2023.
