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South China Morning Post
10 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Malaysia's corruption scandal widens as Sabah lawmakers, whistle-blower plead not guilty
Two Malaysian state assemblymen and the businessman who accused them of corruption pleaded not guilty in court on Monday to charges linked to alleged bribes for a mining licence, in a high-profile case that has gripped the public since covert videos of the transactions surfaced online last year. The case has piled pressure on Sabah's ruling coalition months before an expected December election, fuelling concerns over the state's persistent corruption problems and raising questions about political accountability in one of Malaysia's poorest but most resource-rich regions. Both assemblymen are members of the United Malays National Organisation, which is part of the ruling coalition. Yusof Yacob was accused of accepting 200,000 ringgit (US$47,400) in cash on March 6, 2023, in exchange for helping to facilitate the approval of a mineral prospecting licence for Syarikat Nusa Kini. His counterpart, Andi Suryady Bandy, was charged with receiving 150,000 ringgit on May 12, 2023, to help Syarikat Sinaran Hayat obtain a similar licence. Albert Tei is a partner in the two Sabah-based companies associated with the bribery charges. Facebook/Albert Tei Albert Tei Jiann Cheing is a partner in the two Sabah-based firms. Tei, the whistle-blower, was charged with offering the bribes. All three pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga. The two assemblymen were released on bail of 50,000 ringgit each, while Tei was granted bail of 60,000 ringgit for both offences. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison and fines not less than five times the value of the bribes.
Malay Mail
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘Ikan bilis' charged, ‘sharks' walk free: Businessman cries foul in Sabah graft case
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.
Free Malaysia Today
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
2 Sabah reps, businessman charged over mining scandal
Umno's Andi Suryady Bandy, Gagasan Rakyat's Yusof Yacob, and self-proclaimed whistleblower Albert Tei pleaded not guilty at the Kota Kinabalu special corruption court. PETALING JAYA : Two Sabah assemblymen and a businessman have pleaded not guilty to charges of receiving and giving RM350,000 in bribes related to mineral prospecting licence applications in the state. The three individuals are state industrial development and entrepreneurship assistant minister Andi Suryady Bandy, Sindumin assemblyman Yusof Yacob, and businessman Albert Tei. Andi and Yusof were charged with receiving RM200,000 and RM150,000 in bribes respectively, while Tei was charged with giving the bribes, reported Berita Harian. All three entered not-guilty pleas before judge Jason Juga at the special corruption court in Kota Kinabalu. Andi, the Tanjung Batu assemblyman and Kalabakan MP, is from Umno but has been suspended from the party, while Yusof is from Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah. The scandal surfaced last year following the leak of several videos purportedly showing discussions involving bribery and misconduct related to mineral exploration projects in Sabah. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) previously clarified that 'whistleblowers' involved in the offences they report are not eligible for protection under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.
Malay Mail
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Sabah reps charged with bribery for mining licences say will prove innocence in court, focus remains on serving voters
KOTA KINABALU, June 30 — Faced with corruption charges in connection with mining licences, elected Sabah representatives Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob and Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy today, affirmed their focus to serve their constituents even as they commit to prove their innocence in court. Dr Yusof, who is Sindumin assemblyman, described the charges as a public humiliation due to the media coverage, but is confident that he can clear his name through the judicial process. 'We have been humiliated a lot in the media and through this process we will clear our name through the court. We are confident in the justice system and the court process in this country. 'A person is innocent until proven guilty so we do not want this to bother us and we focus on our duties as representatives of the people to serve the area and also other duties,' he told reporters outside the Kota Kinabalu courthouse today after posting bail. Andi, who is Tanjung Batu assemblyman and assistant minister of industrial development and entrepreneurship, similarly said he is innocent of the charges and will fight them in the trial. 'I want to say again, I am not guilty and will follow all procedures in this court that uphold the rule of law in our country and I am confident that the legal process will run transparently,' he said. Both men earlier claimed trial to charges of receiving bribes totalling RM350,000 from businessman Datuk Albert Tei in exchange for helping secure approval for a mineral prospecting licence. Dr Yusof was charged with receiving RM200,000 in cash in March 2023, while Andi was accused of receiving RM150,000 in May 2023.
South China Morning Post
11-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
‘Protect not punish' whistle-blowers, Malaysian corruption watchdog urges
Malaysian whistle-blowers need stronger legal protections, a watchdog said on Friday, following a controversy in which a businessman who exposed alleged corruption in Sabah state was publicly admonished by the country's anti-graft body for going public with his claims. Advertisement Whistle-blowing is risky in Malaysia , owing to restrictive information laws, tight government control over the media, and the threat of criminal or civil charges being levelled against those who come forward with allegations. Albert Tei, a businessman based in Sabah, covertly filmed videos that allegedly show senior state politicians soliciting and accepting bribes. The footage soon went viral, prompting denials from the politicians involved, who accused Tei of releasing the videos as an act of retaliation for not receiving certain government contracts. Our laws must protect – not punish – those who take steps to correct wrongdoing Raymon Ram, Transparency International Malaysia But on Thursday, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) announced that Tei did not qualify for legal protection under the Whistleblower Protection Act because he went public with his allegations before formally filing a complaint with the agency.
