Kota Kinabalu: Assemblymen Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob and a businessman – charged separately with receiving and giving bribes amounting RM350,000 over mineral exploration licences in Sabah – will have their cases re-mentioned on Sept 23.
Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga fixed the date for Andi, 44, who is State Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Assistant Minister, Sindumin Assemblyman Dr Yusof, 69, businessman Datuk Tei Jiann Cheing, 37, whose cases were brought for pre-trial case management, Tuesday.
Tei, also known as Albert Tei, participated via Zoom. Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Nurul Izzati Sapifee together with DPP Rustam Sanip, served the relevant documents to the defence but requested for further case management as several documents are still pending.
Nurul and Rustam said among the pending documents were Forensics report, Telco report and verification from the Immigration Department.
The defence team had no objection for the delay but asked for a shorter time.
Andi who is also Tanjung Batu Assemblyman is accused of receiving RM150,000 bribe from Tei as an inducement to assist in the processing of Sinaran Hayat Sdn Bhd’s application for a Prospecting Licence for minerals in Sabah.
He allegedly committed the offence at 11pm on May 12, 2023, at his residence in Jalan Pantai, Sembulan, near here.
Yusof allegedly accepted RM200,000 bribe also from Tei as an inducement to assist in processing the Prospecting Licence for Nusa Kini Sdn Bhd also to explore for minerals in Sabah.
The offence allegedly took place at 2pm on March 6, 2023, at the Rooftop Bar & Grill @ Hilton here.
It is believed that Syarikat Nusa Kini Sdn Bhd and Syarikat Sinaran Hayat Sdn Bhd, based in Sabah, are owned by Tei’s business partners.
Andi and Yusof were charged separately under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC which carries a jail term of up to 20 years, and fine of not less than five times of the amount involved, or RM10,000, or which one is higher, on conviction.
Tei is facing two charges of giving bribes to Andi and Yusof for the same purpose at the same places and time.
He was charged under Section 16(b)(A) of the MACC Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
Counsel Datuk Ram Singh, Rizwandean Bukhary M Borhan, Shahlan Jufri, Datin Jaharah Patimbangi, Elhanan James, Prem Elmer Ganasan defended Andi and Yusof, while Tei was represented by Edward Paul, Batholomew Jingulam and Jul Hamri Jumhani.
