The five corruption cases against former PM’s aide Shamsul Iskandar, linked to Sabah mining licences, will be jointly tried in Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
KUALA LUMPUR: The five corruption cases against former senior political secretary to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin will be tried together.
Judge Suzana Hussin allowed the prosecution’s application to transfer one case from the Shah Alam Sessions Court to be consolidated with four others at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
All charges are linked to the approval of a mineral exploration licence in Sabah.
The court fixed March 11 for mention to allow for the submission of documents.
Deputy public prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan sought more time to determine which documents would be relied upon during the trial.
Defence counsel Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad did not object but requested available documents be furnished first.
Amer Hamzah said the defence is studying the possibility of filing an application to transfer the case to the High Court.
He added they are also considering submitting representations if any weaknesses in the charges are identified.
Shamsul Iskandar faces a total of five corruption charges.
He was first charged on December 4 with agreeing to accept a cash bribe of RM100,000 from businessman Albert Tei Jiann Cheing.
The inducement was allegedly to assist Tei’s companies in obtaining mineral exploration licence approvals in Sabah.
He faces another charge of obtaining RM40,000 in cash for the same purpose.
He also faces two charges of receiving bribes in the form of furniture and electrical items valued at RM14,580.03 and RM22,249 respectively from Tei.
A fifth charge was levelled at the Shah Alam Sessions Court on December 5.
It alleges he corruptly obtained RM62,924 from Tei, deposited into a woman’s account to pay rent for a house in Kuala Lumpur.
All charges are framed under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
Conviction carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
In a related development, the Sessions Court also allowed the prosecution’s application to try the cases involving businessman Albert Tei together.
Judge Rosli Ahmad fixed March 13 for further mention of Tei’s case.
Tei was charged on December 4 with two counts of giving cash bribes amounting to RM100,000 and RM40,000 to Shamsul Iskandar.
He also faces two charges of giving bribes in the form of furniture and electrical items valued at RM14,580.03 and RM22,249.
A fifth charge alleges he gave a bribe of RM64,924, deposited into a woman’s bank account for house rental.
All his charges are also framed under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
