Kota Kinabalu: A former chief executive officer and a civil servant were charged Monday with giving and obtaining RM18,000 in bribes allegedly linked to facilitating gold mining operations in Tawau.
Chong Tzu Khen, 69, and Robert Robin Millip, 60, pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Andi Razalijaya A Dadi to all the charges against them.
Chong and Robert each face three charges.
The charges stated that Chong is accused of corruptly giving gratification to Robert, the Chief Assistant Director of the Mining Division at the Sabah Lands and Surveys Department, as an inducement to facilitate the gold mining operations of Wullersdorf Resources Sdn Bhd (WRSB).
The three charges involved cash loans of RM10,000 at a restaurant in April 2024, and RM3,000 and RM5,000 at a coffee shop in October 2024 and October 2025, respectively.
Meanwhile, Robert allegedly corruptly obtained the bribes in the form of cash loans totalling RM18,000 from Chong, the CEO of WRSB, allegedly for the same purpose at the same times and places.
Chong was charged under Section 17(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, while Robert was charged under Section 17(a) of the same Act.
Both offences are punishable under Section 24(1) of the Act, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
The court fixed Oct 27 this year for pre-trial case management, while the trial was scheduled for Jan 11 to 13 next year.
The court released the duo on bail of RM8,000, with two local sureties.
The court also imposed additional bail conditions requiring them to report to the MACC office once a month until the disposal of the case or further order of the court.
They were also required to surrender their international passports and barred from leaving Malaysia without the court’s permission.
Chong, who plans to travel to Perth, Australia, was told to file a formal application through his counsel for the court’s consideration.
They were further reminded not to harass, contact or interfere with the prosecution witnesses, either directly or indirectly.
MACC prosecuting officer Norsham Saharom appeared for the prosecution, while the duo was represented by counsel Datuk Ram Singh, Prem Elmer Ganasan, Jason Chin and Beverly Ivy.
Earlier, Ram told the court that Chong is the CEO and executive director WRSB, while Robert has retired on June 25, 2026 but extended for a year on a contract basis as Senior Assistant Director, Lands and Surveys Department.
