KOTA KINABALU: Counsel Datuk Ram Singh has applied for a gag order on Selangor-based businessman Datuk Albert Tei, who is accused of offering bribes totalling RM350,000 in relation to mineral prospecting licence applications in Sabah.
Special Corruptions Court Judge Jason Juga, however, rejected the application during mention of the case involving Tei and two state assemblymen here on Tuesday (Sept 23).
In his application, Ram said it was so that Tei would not hold press conferences to humiliate or embarrass anyone whom the accused believed was against him.
"I also believe there is an ongoing investigation over his statement previously made after a previous court hearing," he added.
Tei, who was barred from entering the state upon arrival at Kota Kinabalu International Airport on Monday (Sept 22), will be issued a notice of hearing for his next mention date.
His counsel Edward Paul sought confirmation that the bar order did not come from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
To this, the prosecution affirmed that the order was not from the MACC.
Earlier, Ram also applied for the passports of his clients, Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob and Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, to be returned for a period of four months.
The court heard that both assemblymen need to travel for work purposes, among other matters.
The court also heard that it would be inconvenient to request their passports whenever they had to travel, and so a temporary return would be preferable.
Judge Juga allowed this application and ordered that the passports be returned to the court for safekeeping on or before Jan 23.
He set the next pre-trial case management on Oct 21 for Yusof and Andi, and on Oct 24 for Tei.
The prosecution team still have one document left to serve to the counsel and court.
On Tuesday, it served documents including the forensic analysis reports of video and audio recordings to counsel, reports of immigration movements for the accused, as well as telecommunications activity confirmation of the accused.
All three accused had claimed trial to receiving or giving bribes totalling RM350,000 in relation to the mining prospecting scandal on June 30.
