‘Ikan bilis' charged, ‘sharks' walk free: Businessman cries foul in Sabah graft case
Selangor-based businessman Datuk Albert Tei Jiann Cheing, 37, speaks to reporters after posting bail at the Kota Kinabalu Court Complex on June 30, 2025. — Picture by Julia Chan/Malay Mail
KOTA KINABALU (June 30): Datuk Albert Tei Jiann Cheing, the businessman at the centre of a high-profile Sabah mining licence corruption case, today claimed he was being used as a political scapegoat for exposing top-level wrongdoing, including allegations involving the state chief minister.
The 37-year-old who is based in Selangor said it was shameful that he was the one in the dock while the real culprits remain free.
'I'm just an ikan bilis, but I've been caught and charged. What about the sharks?' he told reporters after being charged in court with offering bribes to two Sabah assemblymen this morning.
He claimed there were seven other politicians involved apart from the two charged alongside him in court today – Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Datuk Andi Suryandy Bandy who represents Tanjung Batu, and Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob who is also Qhazanah Sabah Bhd chairman.
Tei also claimed to have provided evidence to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to support his allegations since last October.
He questioned the lengthy delay – eight months – for the charges to be filed.
He also described himself as a whistleblower, and said it set a dangerous message.
'When we challenge the powerful, even the whistleblower gets dragged to court. Who will dare come forward next?'
Tei claimed the treatment of his case has been irregular, saying that he received only two weeks' notice before being charged, contrary to the standard MACC practice.
'Who am I? Just a small fry. Why the special two-week wait? What were they discussing behind closed doors?' he asked.
He alleged that the prosecution against him was a calculated move to silence him.
'I want to say this. I know what they're thinking. They want to pressure and burden me, so that investigations won't proceed. So that I'll stay silent. I know what their game is.
'Today you charge two people. I will get bail. Tomorrow, another two more, and I will pay bail… you will continue to line them up… is this right?' he said.
Tei also claimed to be targeted.
'If anything untoward happens to me after this, if I'm killed, kidnapped, or go missing, look for those 10 people.
'I have no enemies, except those 10,' he said.
Tei had previously named politicians in a series of videos that circulated online.
But he added that he is not afraid to fight the charges in court,
His lawyer Edward Paul said it was 'rare' for a complainant to be charged alongside those he reported.
'This is rare, but we are ready. He is courageous and prepared to clear his name both as an accused and as a whistleblower,' he said.
Tei had reportedly sought witness protection last year after accusing eight Sabah leaders in the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah of accepting bribes in exchange for helping him secure a mining prospecting licence.
Tei was today charged alongside Andi and Dr Yusof Yacob of offering and receiving a total of RM350,000 in cash bribes respectively. – Malay Mail
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Assemblymen, businessman vow to clear their names
Albert Tei KOTA KINABALU (June 30): Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof @ Josree Yacob, Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy and businessman Datuk Tei Jiann Cheing have vowed to fight all out to clear their names after pleading not guilty in the Sessions Court here on Monday to corruption charges involving mineral mining licences in the state in 2023. Yusof told reporters outside the courthouse that he is confident they have done nothing wrong and will clear their names through the court. The Qhazanah Sabah Berhad chairman said that despite being humiliated in the media, they remain confident in the country's legal and judicial processes. Yusof also stressed that they do not want the case to affect their duties as elected representatives and will continue to serve the rakyat in their constituencies. 'We are still innocent until proven guilty,' he said. Yusof, 69, was charged with one count of receiving a RM200,000 bribe from Tei as an inducement to facilitate a prospecting licence application for mineral exploration in Sabah. The alleged offence took place at a hotel here at 2pm on March 6, 2023. Andi also maintained his innocence and said he will fully cooperate with court procedures. He stated that he holds the country's justice system in high regard and is confident the case will proceed fairly and transparently. Andi echoed Yusof's stance that he will continue to fulfill his duties as a people's representative, which remains his top priority. 'We will clear our names, InshaAllah,' he said. Andi, who is also the Sabah Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship and the Member of Parliament for Kalabakan, was charged with receiving a RM150,000 bribe from Tei to facilitate a similar prospecting licence application. The alleged offence occurred at Andi's residence here at 11pm on May 12, 2023. When asked if he would take a leave of absence, Andi said he would leave the matter to the Sabah government to decide. Tei, 36, from Selangor, was charged with two counts of giving bribes to Yusof and Andi at the respective locations, dates, and times. Yusof (left) and Andi at the court. – Bernama photo Yusof and Andi were charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, while Tei was charged under Section 16(b)(A) of the same law. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000 — whichever is higher. Meanwhile, Tei questioned why only two assemblymen were charged in the eight months since the MACC began investigating a series of released videos. He claimed to have provided the commission with stronger evidence implicating seven others than what was used against Yusof and Andi. 'Only two people were charged. Was their 'cable' not strong enough? 'What about the other seven, especially Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor? 'They caught the anchovies, but the sharks are still roaming around,' he told reporters outside the courthouse. Tei also expressed disappointment that he, as the whistleblower, was being charged, calling it a 'poisonous message' being sent by the MACC to the rakyat. He said his prosecution shows that those who expose wrongdoing involving powerful or influential figures risk being punished instead of protected — but vowed to press on as a youth fighting corruption. 'I know these people are always thinking of ways to make things difficult for me so that the investigation cannot continue. 'So, I am calling on the rakyat of Malaysia to be a witness today. 'If anything unfortunate happens to me after this — such as being killed, kidnapped, or suddenly going missing — find those ten people, because I have no other enemies besides them,' he said. Despite facing prosecution, Tei said he remained undeterred and would fight the charges in court. 'I am not afraid. I'll continue to speak out,' he said. Deputy public prosecutors Nurul Izzati Sapifee and Rustam Sanip appeared for the prosecution. Yusof and Andi were represented by lawyers Datuk Ram Singh, Shahlan Jufri and Ridzwandean Borhan, while Tei was represented by Edward Paul. Yusof and Andi were each granted bail of RM50,000 in one surety, while Tei was allowed bail of RM60,000 in one surety. The court also set August 5 for case mention and ordered all the accused to surrender their passports and report to the nearest MACC office every two months.
Sinar Daily
3 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Two Sabah reps, businessman plead not guilty to bribery over mining licences
The accused were Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof @ Josree Yacob, Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy and businessman Datuk Tei Jiann Cheing. 30 Jun 2025 04:01pm Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof @ Josree Yacob (left) and Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy at the Kota Kinabalu Courts Complex, today. - Photo by Bernama KOTA KINABALU - Two Sabah assemblymen and a businessman pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to corruption charges involving mineral mining licensing in the state in 2023. The accused - Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof @ Josree Yacob, Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy and businessman Datuk Tei Jiann Cheing - made their pleas after separate charges were read before Judge Jason Juga. Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof @ Josree Yacob (left) and Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy at the Kota Kinabalu Courts Complex, today. - Photo by Bernama Yusof, 69, who is the chairman of Qhazanah Sabah Berhad, was charged with one count of receiving a RM200,000 bribe from Tei as an inducement to facilitate a prospecting licence application for mineral exploration in Sabah. The alleged offence took place at a hotel here at 2 pm on March 6, 2023. Andi Muhammad Suryady, 44, who is also Sabah Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship and the Member of Parliament for Kalabakan, was charged with receiving a RM150,000 bribe from Tei as an inducement to facilitate a prospecting licence application for mineral exploration in Sabah. The alleged offence occurred at the assemblyman's residence here at 11 pm on May 12, 2023. Businessman Datuk Tei Jiann Cheing at the Kota Kinabalu Courts Complex, today. - Photo by Bernama Meanwhile, Tei, 36, was charged with two counts of giving bribes to Yusof and Andi Muhammad Suryady, respectively, at the same locations, dates, and times. The two assemblymen were charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, while Tei was charged under Section 16(b)(A) of the same law. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher. Deputy public prosecutors Nurul Izzati Sapifee and Rustam Sanip appeared for the prosecution. Yusof and Andi Muhammad Suryady were represented by lawyers Datuk Ram Singh, Shahlan Jufri and Ridzwandean Borhan, while Tei was represented by Edward Paul. Yusof and Andi Muhammad Suryady were each granted bail of RM50,000 in one surety, while Tei was allowed RM60,000 bail in one surety. The court also set Aug 5 for mention and ordered all the accused to surrender their passports and report to the nearest MACC office every two months. - BERNAMA More Like This
Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Selangor MB: Putra Heights blast caused by soil subsidence, pipe shifted 15.9cm
SHAH ALAM, June 30 — The Putra Heights gas pipe explosion was caused by soil subsidence that happened over 25 years since it was laid in 2000, resulting in the pipe shifting by 15.9cm. The matter was revealed by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amiruddin Saari here. 'The impact from the subsidence caused the pipe to move by 15.9cm and this was found after analysing samples from the pipe that showed signs of fatigue and stress lines on the structure,' he said in a statement. MORE TO COME
