KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has dismissed an application by businessman Albert Tei who sought to transfer his case from the Sessions Court to the High Court.
High Court judge Justice Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin made the dismissal on grounds that the case involved issues that were not complex and could still be ventilated at the Sessions Court.
"I disagree with the applicant's request. My stand is that the issues raised were not complex and it is something faced by all the accused.
"As you are brought to the court, you have time to make preparations to appoint a lawyer and prepare for the trial.
"Although the hearing has been fixed and if you are not ready, the court will give a leeway by adjourning the proceedings to ensure the accused is truly ready.
"Therefore, I dismiss this application," she said here on Friday.
Deputy public prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan appeared for the prosecution while lawyer Mahajoth Singh represented Tei.
Tei, whose real name is Tei Jiann Cheing, 37, was charged with four counts of giving a bribe of RM140,000 in cash and furniture, including electrical goods worth RM14,580.03 and RM22,249 to former senior political secretary to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.
The bribe was an inducement for Shamsul Iskandar to help companies that Tei had interests in obtain approval for mineral exploration licences in Sabah.
All the offences were allegedly committed at the car park of a hotel on Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Jalan Medang Serai, Bukit Bandaraya, here and Precinct 14, Putrajaya, between Nov 24, 2023 and March 5, 2024.
Tei is also charged with giving a bribe amounting to RM64,924 to Shamsul Iskandar at a bank in Country Heights, Kajang, between Nov 28, 2023 and Sept 23, 2024.
All charges were brought under Section 17 (b) of the MACC Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 24 (1) of the same act and provides imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe or RM10,000, or whichever is higher, if convicted.
