Two Sabah assemblymen and a businessman pleaded not guilty today to corruption charges involving RM350,000 in alleged bribes linked to mineral exploration licences.
Businessman Datuk Tei Jiann Cheing – also known as Albert Tei – was accused of offering cash payments totalling RM350,000 to Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy and Datuk Yusof Yacob as inducements to secure approvals for prospecting licences tied to two private companies.
The two assemblymen, both government representatives in the Sabah Legislative Assembly, were separately charged with accepting the bribes, said to be in return for facilitating mineral licence applications under the state’s purview.
All three individuals claimed trial before Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga this morning.
Tei, 37, allegedly gave RM150,000 to Andi and RM200,000 to Yusof between March and May last year. The charges were framed under Section 16(b)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 – an offence punishable by up to 20 years’ jail and a fine of at least five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Andi, 44 – who is also Sabah’s Assistant Minister for Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship – is accused of receiving RM150,000 on May 12, 2023, at the front porch of his home in Jalan Pantai Sembulan.
Yusof, 69, the assemblyman for Sindumin and chairman of state-owned investment arm Qhazanah Sabah Bhd, was alleged to have received RM200,000 from Tei at a rooftop bar in Hilton Kota Kinabalu on March 6, 2023.
Both are charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the same Act.
Tei was said to be acting in connection with applications submitted by Sinaran Hayat Sdn Bhd and Nusa Kini Sdn Bhd – two companies purportedly seeking state approval to explore minerals in Sabah.
The court fixed August 5 for case management.
Bail for both assemblymen was set at RM50,000 each, with a deposit of RM10,000 and one local surety. Tei was granted bail of RM60,000 with RM15,000 to be deposited and one local surety.
All three were ordered to surrender their passports to the court and report monthly to the MACC office. The court also issued a warning to not tamper with witnesses.
Deputy public prosecutors Nurul Izzati Sapifee, Rustam Sanip, and MACC officer Rekhraj Singh appeared for the prosecution.
Andi and Yusof were represented by Datuk Ram Singh, Rizwandean Bukhary M. Borhan, Shahlan Jufri, and Datin Jaharah Patimbangi. Tei was represented by Edward Paul, Bartholomew Jingulam, and Jul Hamri Jumhani.
The case marks the latest high-profile corruption trial to grip Sabah’s political landscape, coming amid growing scrutiny over the state’s handling of natural resources. – June 30, 2025
