KOTA KINABALU: The corruption trial of two former Sabah assemblymen has been postponed pending a decision to have their cases transferred to the High Court.
Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob, former Sindumin assemblyman and Kalabakan MP Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, who is former Tanjung Batu assemblyman, who are facing corruption charges in connection with the mineral licence applications, were scheduled for the case to begin trial Monday (June 15).
Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus allowed the adjournment after being informed that both accused had filed a Notice of Motion in the High Court seeking to move the case from the Special Corruption Sessions Court to the High Court.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Wardah Ishhar told the court the prosecution had received the notice, though a hearing date had not yet been fixed.
She requested the trial be deferred while awaiting the High Court’s decision and fixed July 15 for an e‑review to obtain updates on the High Court application.
Defence counsel Datuk Rizwandean Bukhary M. Borhan confirmed the application was filed under Section 417 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
He said the matter had been set before two different High Courts and the defence would seek to have both heard together. He also requested today’s trial be postponed pending the outcome.
The court then fixed July 15 for an e‑review to obtain updates on the High Court application.
Both were charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti‑Corruption Commission Act 2009,on June 30, last year
Dr Yusof is accused of receiving RM200,000 from businessman Albert Tei on March 6 last year at Rooftop Bar & Grill, Hilton Hotel, Kota Kinabalu, allegedly as inducement to approve Nusa Kini Sdn Bhd’s mining licence application.
Andi is accused of receiving RM150,000 from Tei on May 12 at his residence in Jalan Pantai, Sembulan, allegedly to process Sinaran Hayat Sdn Bhd’s mining licence application.
Tei was charged under Section 16(b)(A) of the same Act for allegedly giving the bribe.
