ALBERT TEI CHARGED WITH GIVING OVER RM176,000 IN BRIBES FOR MINING LICENCE APPROVAL

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- Businessman Albert Tei was charged in the Sessions Court here today on four charges of giving bribes, totalling RM176,829.03, to former Senior Political Secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, to help secure approval for a mineral exploration licence in Sabah.

Albert Tei Jiann Cheing, 37, pleaded not guilty to all the charges before Judge Suzana Hussin.

“I understand (the charges). I plead not guilty and claim trial," he said.

Tei is charged with two counts of giving bribes of RM100,000 and RM40,000 to Shamsul Iskandar, 50, at a car park of a hotel in Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin and at a premises in Jalan Medang Serai, Bukit Bandaraya here between Nov 24, 2023, and Jan 29, 2024.

The bribes were allegedly given as an inducement for Shamsul Iskandar to help companies in which Tei had an interest obtain approval for mineral exploration licenses in Sabah.

He is also charged with two counts of giving bribes, namely furniture and electrical goods worth RM14,580.03 and RM22,249, respectively, to Shamsul Iskandar for the same purpose.

The act was allegedly committed at two locations, namely Jalan Medang Serai, Bukit Bandaraya here, between Dec 7, 2023, and Jan 31, 2024, and at Jalan P14a 1/1, Precinct 14, Putrajaya, between Feb 26, 2024, and March 5, 2024.

The four charges,  framed under Section 17 (b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (MACC) [Act 694] and punishable under Section 24 (1) of the same law,  provide imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe that was the subject matter of the offence, if the bribe can be assessed, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

-- BERNAMA