mining licence

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.

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.

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

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