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EX-POLITICAL aide Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin appeared in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today where he was charged with four counts of corruption, in which he is accused of accepting RM176,829.03 in cash and various household items from businessman Tei Jiann Cheng, also known as Albert Tei.
The charges allege that the inducements were provided to assist companies connected to Tei in securing mineral exploration licences in Sabah.
He is charged under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which stipulates a maximum prison term of 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
New Straits Times reported earlier that the courtroom was at full capacity this morning. By 8am, some 14 journalists and over 20 members of the public had arrived to occupy the public gallery. Several supporters of Shamsul Iskandar, who is also Melaka PKR chief, were barred from entry and had to remain along the corridor outside the courtroom.
The approach to the courtroom was cordoned off and closely monitored by police and court security personnel. Both Shamsul Iskandar and Tei were seated separately in the public gallery, with Tei’s wife, Lee Pei Rie, also in attendance.
Deputy public prosecutors Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib and Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan were present, along with defence lawyers Mahajoth Singh, Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, Latheefa Koya, N. Surendran, Rajesh Nagarajan, Joshua Tay, and Yusmadi Yusoff. Proceedings were overseen by Judge Suzana Hussin.
The case has attracted extensive media coverage and public scrutiny, highlighting the intertwining of politics and business in Malaysia and signalling a high-profile legal confrontation. - December 4, 2025