Kota Kinabalu: The Corruption Special Court set Dec 5 for further pre-trial case management (PTCM) for the two incumbent assemblymen charged with receiving and giving bribes amounting to RM350,000 over applications to obtain mineral exploration licences in Sabah,Session Court Judge Jason Juga set the date for Sindumin Incumbent Assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob and Tanjung Batu Incumbent Assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy when their cases were brought up for mention, Tuesday.
During the proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Rustam Sanip informed the court that the prosecution had yet to receive the CD evidence from the Forensic Department, which is the only pending document to be served to the counsels.
“During previous proceeding we have informed that the only document left to be served to the counsels is the CD. However, we have yet received the CD from the Forensic.
“Therefore, we request for a month to be fixed for the CD to be served to the counsels,” he said.
Rustam also told the court that in Andi’s case, they had just been informed that certain documents yet to be served to the counsels.
He said for the reason, the prosecution needed further PTCM to peruse or double-check the documents besides the CD to be served to the counsels.
Counsel Rizwandean M Borhan told the court that they have no objections for further mention but requested the date to be after the State Election, as both Yusof and Andi will involve in the election.
Yusof, 69, who is Qhazanah Sabah Berhad Chairman, 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 2pm at a hotel here on March 6, 2023.
Andi, 44, who is State Assistant Minister and Kalabakan Member of Parliament, 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 took place at the Assemblyman’s residence here at 11pm on May 12, 2023.
The two assemblymen were charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
If convicted, they face up to 20 years’ jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Yusof and Andi Muhammad Suryady were represented by counsels Ridzwandean together with Datuk Ram Singh and Shahlan Jufri.
Yusof and Andi Muhammad Suryady were released on bail and in previous proceedings, they managed to get back their passports for overseas travel for four months.