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TWO Sabah assemblymen facing corruption charges appeared at the Special Corruption Court here on Tuesday morning for the mention of their pre-trial case.
Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob, assemblyman for Sindumin and chairman of Qhazanah Sabah, and Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, the Tanjung Batu assemblyman and Assistant Minister for Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship, arrived at the court at approximately 9:15am.
They were accompanied by a legal team comprising senior counsel Datuk Ram Singh, along with Kamarudin Mohmad Chinki, Rizwandean Bukhary M Borhan, Shahlan Jufri, Elhanan James, Datin Jaharah Patinbangi, and Prem Elmer Ganasan.
The court appearance follows their plea of not guilty on 30 June, when both lawmakers—alongside a businessman with a "Datuk" title—were formally charged with corruption offences involving alleged bribes tied to the approval of mineral prospecting licences.
The case has drawn considerable public and political attention, raising broader concerns over governance and transparency within Sabah’s state administration.
The Vibes.com reported on June 30, that the two Sabah lawmakers and a prominent businessman have pleaded not guilty to corruption charges linked to alleged bribes involving mineral prospecting licences, in a case that has renewed scrutiny of the state’s political and business circles.
Tanjung Batu assemblyman and Assistant Minister for Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship, Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, is accused of receiving RM150,000 in cash from businessman Datuk Tei Jiann Cheing—also known as Albert Tei—in connection with a licence application for Syarikat Sinaran Hayat Sdn Bhd.
The alleged offence took place on 12 May 2023 at Andi’s residence in Jalan Pantai Sembulan, not far from the Sabah state administrative complex.
He faces a charge under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of no less than five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Also charged was Sindumin assemblyman and Qhazanah Sabah chairman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob, who faces a separate charge of accepting RM200,000 from Tei. The alleged transaction took place on 6 March 2023 at a rooftop bar at the Hilton Hotel in Kota Kinabalu, and was said to be linked to another prospecting licence application, this time for Syarikat Nusa Kini Sdn Bhd.
Tei, a businessman based in Selangor with extensive dealings in Sabah, was charged with two counts of bribery related to the alleged payments to both politicians. He also pleaded not guilty.
All three men appeared composed in the dock as the charges were read before Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga.
Bail for the lawmakers was set at RM50,000 each, with RM10,000 to be deposited and two local sureties. Tei was granted bail of RM60,000 for both charges, with RM15,000 to be deposited.
The case marks one of the most high-profile graft prosecutions in Sabah in recent years and is expected to send ripples through both the state government and the business community. - August 5, 2025