Two assemblymen, businessman to face graft charges Monday

Borneo Post

15 hours ago

KOTA KINABALU (June 29): Two state assemblymen and a businessman, detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in 'Operation Adun', will be charged in court on Monday.
The Sabah MACC confirmed in a media notice that the trio will face four charges under the MACC Act 2009 at the Special Corruption Court here at 9am.
Two charges fall under Section 16(b)(A) for offering bribes while the other two are under Section 16(a)(A) for accepting bribes.
Operation Adun investigates the alleged involvement of Sabah lawmakers in mining licence corruption, sparked by a news portal's exposé last November.
This follows the recent arrest of another assemblyman, an assistant minister, on June 23 for allegedly soliciting RM150,000 in bribes linked to mining permits. He is the third legislator held in the probe.
MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki had earlier stated that three individuals — two assemblymen and a civilian —would be charged by month's end.
Fifteen politicians in Sabah have been implicated in corrupt activities between 2023 and 2024, in exchange for assistance in processing mineral exploration licence applications.
On Saturday, the same news portal reported that six more politicians from two local parties in Sabah were allegedly involved in the scandal.
It quoted a source that one of the leaders received the highest amount of RM1.78 million, followed by two who received RM600,000 each. The other three allegedly received RM530,000, RM300,000 and RM150,000.
MACC has not commented on the latest allegation involving the six political leaders. Five of them are members of the State Cabinet.