Court allows two Sabah assemblymen accused of taking bribes from businessman Albert Tei to retrieve passports pending trial

Court allows two Sabah assemblymen accused of taking bribes from businessman Albert Tei to retrieve passports pending trial

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 23 — The Corruption Court here has agreed to allow two assemblymen accused of bribing businessman Datuk Albert Tei to have their passports for four months as they await trial.

Judge Jason Juga allowed Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob and Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy to get their passports back until January 23.

According to counsel Datuk Ram Singh, Dr Yusof and Andi had applied for the return due to their positions as state assemblymen and as chairman of Qhazanah Sabah and as Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Assistant Minister respectively.

“In asking for their passport to be returned, they will update the investigating officer about their whereabouts,” he said during the pre trial case management today.

Earlier Ram also urged the court to issue a gag order against Tei so as not to “humiliate or embarrass” anyone and also while investigations and the court.

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“I believe that Datuk Albert is going to do a press conference after this case, — we have no objection, except if it will humiliate my client due to the process of court and the Chief Minister of Sabah and other related parties.

“I also believe that there is an ongoing investigation over his statement made after the previous court hearing,” he said.

The judge denied the application for the gag order.

The case is set for mention again on October 21.

Dr Yusof was accused of receiving RM200,000 in cash from Tei on March 6, 2023 at the rooftop restaurant in Hilton hotel at around 2pm in exchange for help in the application and approval process for a mineral prospecting licence for Syarikat Nusa Kini Sdn Bhd in Sabah.

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Andi was charged with receiving RM150,000 cash from Tei on May 12, 2023 at 11pm in front of his residence along Jalan Pantai, Sembulan, similarly in exchange for help to apply and approve the mineral prospecting licence for Syarikat Sinaran Hayat Sdn Bhd.