The High Court dismissed Shamsul Iskandar’s bid to move five corruption charges from Sessions Court, citing no legal grounds for transfer
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has dismissed the application by the former senior political secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, to transfer five corruption charges made against him from the Sessions Court to the High Court.
Justice Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin, in dismissing the application today, held that the applicant had not met the requirements under Section 417 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
“As the law is settled on this issue, I see no reason to depart from established judicial precedents, some of which are binding. Accordingly, the application is dismissed,” she said.
Deputy public prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan appeared for the prosecution, while counsel Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad represented Shamsul Iskandar.
In the application filed on Feb 4, Shamsul Iskandar contended that the cases involve constitutional questions and complex issues of law, including matters relating to the Federal Constitution, adding that the transfer would not prejudice any party and would facilitate the proper determination of the issues raised.
On Dec 4, 2025, Shamsul Iskandar was charged at the Sessions Court here with agreeing to accept RM100,000 in cash from businessman Albert Tei Jiann Cheing, 37, as an inducement to help Tei’s companies obtain mineral exploration licences in Sabah, although the matter was not related to his official duties.
He also faces a charge of accepting RM40,000 in cash from the same individual for the same purpose, in addition to two counts of receiving bribes in the form of furniture and electrical appliances valued at RM14,580 and RM22,249, respectively.
The offences were allegedly committed at premises in Jalan Medang Serai, Bukit Bandaraya, at a hotel car park in Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin here, and at Jalan P14a 1/1, Precinct 14, Putrajaya, between Dec 7, 2023 and Jan 31, 2024, as well as between Nov 24, 2023 and March 5, 2024.
On Dec 5 the same year, he was also charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court with one count of corruptly obtaining RM62,924 from Tei at a bank in Country Heights, Kajang between Nov 28, 2023 and Sept 23, 2024.
The sum was allegedly deposited into a woman’s bank account for the rental of a house in Kuala Lumpur, as an inducement to assist Tei’s companies in securing mineral exploration licences in Sabah.
All charges were framed under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 (Act 694) and are punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which provides for a maximum imprisonment of 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.
