Family of three granted DNAA in Sabah gold mining fraud case

New Straits Times

24-04-2025

KOTA KINABALU: The Special Corruption Court today ordered a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) for a family of three who were charged with cheating in relation to gold mining activities.
Judge Jason Juga made the decision regarding Datuk Lo Fui Ming, his son Lo Teck Yong, and daughter Lo Choon Fung, following an application by the prosecution for the accused to be granted DNAA.
The court also ordered the return of the trio's international passports and the refund of their bail money.
Today's proceedings were held to mention the status of the representations.
However, the prosecution informed the court that there was a new development and they applied for the trio to DNAA.
"This application is subject to future developments. Should the case progress differently than expected, the prosecution will proceed with the charges," said the prosecution.
Defence counsel Zahir Shah confirmed that he had been informed of the prosecution's application earlier in the day.
"We have no objections. We also request that, upon the court granting the DNAA, the passports and bail amounts be returned to the accused," he said.
Counsel Norbert Yapp appeared in court as watching brief counsel for the Wullersdorf Resources Sdn Bhd.
Fui Ming is the former Chief Executive Officer of Wullersdorf Resources Sdn Bhd.
His son, Teck Yong, is a former director of the same company, while his daughter, Choon Fung, is the Director of Southsea Gold Sdn Bhd.
Fu Ming, 69, and Teck Yong, 43, are accused of cheating the Sabah government — namely the Department of Lands and Surveys — by not reporting the number of gold bars and illegally selling the gold bars to a private company while knowingly causing financial losses to the state.
They were accused of committing the offence between 2019 and 2023, and had caused losses of more than RM1.3 million to the Sabah government.