Businessman in Sabah graft case says he's a small fry
KOTA KINABALU: Two Sabah assemblymen, who have been charged with corruption along with a businessman, have vowed to clear their names in court following what they called 'intense humiliation in the media'.
Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob (Sinduman) and Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy (Tanjung Batu) said they are determined to prove their innocence and restore their reputations through the legal system.
The two, along with 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 yesterday.
All three pleaded not guilty at the Special Corruption Court to charges of receiving and giving bribes totalling RM350,000 in relation to mineral prospecting licence applications.
According to the charge sheets, Dr Yusof, 69, who is also the Qhazanah Sabah Bhd chairman, allegedly received RM200,000 in cash from Tei on March 6, 2023, at 2pm at a hotel restaurant here as inducement to facilitate the approval of a prospecting licence for Nusa Kini Sdn Bhd to explore minerals in Sabah.
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, meanwhile, was charged with giving bribes to both assemblymen in relation to the same licence applications.
All three face jail terms 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.
Juga fixed Aug 5 for mention and granted all the accused bail.
The two assemblymen were each released on court bail of RM50,000, with RM10,000 deposited under one local surety, while 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 surrender their passports to the court. All three paid the bail.
Asked about his position as Assistant Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister, Andi declined to comment. 'Let's just wait for instructions,' he said.
Tei, meanwhile, claimed he was a 'small fry' caught in a net for bigger fish and called for action against the 'sharks' he said 'are still swimming free'.
'I have been charged, but what about the rest? Why only charge the 'ikan bilis' (anchovies) while the sharks are still out there?' he asked.
Andi also accused the authorities of sending a 'poisonous signal' to Malaysians by charging him, the whistleblower, instead of protecting him.
'I am not afraid. I will fight this in court,' he said.
Tei's lawyer Edward Paul said it was unusual that the complainant in the case was also charged alongside the receivers. He also said they would get former MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya to join their legal team for the case.
The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutors Rustam Sanip and Nurul Izzati Sapifiee.
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