Former PM’s aide and businessman to be charged with bribery on Friday, as MACC chief details investigation findings and addresses allegations.
PUTRAJAYA: Former senior political secretary to the prime minister, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, and businessman Albert Tei will face corruption charges in court on Friday.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the two will each face five counts under the MACC Act at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court and an additional charge at the Shah Alam Sessions Court.
“The charges involve Section 17(a) of the MACC Act for the offence of accepting bribes and Section 17(b) for the offence of giving bribes,” he said at a press conference today.
He confirmed the investigation, conducted under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009, has been completed within the mandated seven-day period.
The case relates to allegations that Tei bribed Shamsul to recover a sum of money purportedly distributed to several Sabah assemblymen.
A third individual detained, Sofia Rini Buyong, will not be charged and has been classified as a prosecution witness.
Azam said statements were recorded from 32 witnesses during the investigation.
He also addressed a viral claim by Tei’s wife that MACC officers did not present a search list during a raid, asserting full compliance with procedure.
“The search list and seizure list were handed directly to Albert Tei. The claim that we did not present that document is not true,” he stated.
Azam denied further accusations that officers pointed a pistol, confirming a police report has been made and all video evidence handed over.
He confirmed a separate investigation has been opened into Tei’s lawyer, Mahajoth Singh, under Section 48 of the MACC Act for refusing to cooperate.
“Lawyer-client communication privilege does not protect exhibits or documents that are not part of confidential advice,” Azam explained.
He informed that approximately RM600,000 had been frozen over the course of the investigation.
Tei had previously claimed he spent about RM629,000 on Shamsul, including on renovations, cigars and a suit, linked to efforts to recover funds allegedly disbursed to Sabah politicians.
