Assemblymen, businessman vow to clear their names

KOTA KINABALU (June 30): Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof @ Josree Yacob, Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy and businessman Datuk Tei Jiann Cheing have vowed to fight all out to clear their names after pleading not guilty in the Sessions Court here on Monday to corruption charges involving mineral mining licences in the state in 2023.

Yusof told reporters outside the courthouse that he is confident they have done nothing wrong and will clear their names through the court.

The Qhazanah Sabah Berhad chairman said that despite being humiliated in the media, they remain confident in the country’s legal and judicial processes.

Yusof also stressed that they do not want the case to affect their duties as elected representatives and will continue to serve the rakyat in their constituencies.

“We are still innocent until proven guilty,” he said.

Yusof, 69, 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 a hotel here at 2pm on March 6, 2023.

Andi also maintained his innocence and said he will fully cooperate with court procedures.

He stated that he holds the country’s justice system in high regard and is confident the case will proceed fairly and transparently.

Andi echoed Yusof’s stance that he will continue to fulfill his duties as a people’s representative, which remains his top priority.

“We will clear our names, InshaAllah,” he said.

Andi, who is also the Sabah Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship and the Member of Parliament for Kalabakan, was charged with receiving a RM150,000 bribe from Tei to facilitate a similar prospecting licence application. The alleged offence occurred at Andi’s residence here at 11pm on May 12, 2023.

When asked if he would take a leave of absence, Andi said he would leave the matter to the Sabah government to decide.

Tei, 36, from Selangor, was charged with two counts of giving bribes to Yusof and Andi at the respective locations, dates, and times.

Yusof and Andi were charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, while Tei was charged under Section 16(b)(A) of the same law.

If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000 — whichever is higher.

Meanwhile, Tei questioned why only two assemblymen were charged in the eight months since the MACC began investigating a series of released videos.

He claimed to have provided the commission with stronger evidence implicating seven others than what was used against Yusof and Andi.

“Only two people were charged. Was their ‘cable’ not strong enough?

“What about the other seven, especially Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor?

“They caught the anchovies, but the sharks are still roaming around,” he told reporters outside the courthouse.

Tei also expressed disappointment that he, as the whistleblower, was being charged, calling it a “poisonous message” being sent by the MACC to the rakyat.

He said his prosecution shows that those who expose wrongdoing involving powerful or influential figures risk being punished instead of protected — but vowed to press on as a youth fighting corruption.

“I know these people are always thinking of ways to make things difficult for me so that the investigation cannot continue.

“So, I am calling on the rakyat of Malaysia to be a witness today.

“If anything unfortunate happens to me after this — such as being killed, kidnapped, or suddenly going missing — find those ten people, because I have no other enemies besides them,” he said.

Despite facing prosecution, Tei said he remained undeterred and would fight the charges in court.

“I am not afraid. I’ll continue to speak out,” he said.

Deputy public prosecutors Nurul Izzati Sapifee and Rustam Sanip appeared for the prosecution.

Yusof and Andi were represented by lawyers Datuk Ram Singh, Shahlan Jufri and Ridzwandean Borhan, while Tei was represented by Edward Paul.

Yusof and Andi were each granted bail of RM50,000 in one surety, while Tei was allowed bail of RM60,000 in one surety.

The court also set August 5 for case mention and ordered all the accused to surrender their passports and report to the nearest MACC office every two months.