Kota Kinabalu: Two former assemblymen charged with corrupt practices amounting to RM350,000 over applications to obtain mineral exploration licences in Sabah, will go on a joint trial in June this year.
Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus set the trial for former Sindumin Assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob and former Tanjung Batu Assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy to be heard on June 15, 16, 18, 19, 29 and 30, and ordered that their cases be consolidated.
Advertisement
The matter came up for further mention Thursday to enable the prosecution to obtain instructions from its headquarters pertaining to the consolidation for both cases.
The prosecution applied for both cases to be consolidated, to which counsel for both accused raised no objection.
When asked by the court, the prosecution said currently they have 40 witnesses.
During the proceedings, defence counsel also informed the court that at the previous mention, they had applied for an extension of the temporary release of their clients’ passports for a further six months.
The prosecution did not object.
Elsie allowed the application, extending the release of the passports until June 30, this year.
On June 30, 2025, both Dr Yusof, 69, and Andi Suryady, 44, who is Kalabakan MP, claimed trial to the corruption charges against them, respectively.
Dr Yusof is charged with receiving a RM200,000 bribe from businessman, one Datuk Tei Jiann Cheing, also known as Albert Tei, as an inducement to facilitate a prospecting licence application for mineral exploration in Sabah, at 2pm at a hotel, here, on March 6, 2023.
Andi Suryady is accused of receiving a RM150,000 bribe from Tei as an inducement to facilitate a prospecting licence application for mineral exploration in Sabah at his residence, here, at 11pm on May 12, 2023.
Both accused were charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, on conviction.
Dr Yusof and Andi Muhammad Suryady were represented by counsel Datuk Ram Singh, Ridzwandean Bukhary M. Borhan, Shahlan Jufri and Elhanan James, while Datin Jaharah Patimbangi also appeared for Andi Suryady.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Wardah Ishhar appeared for the prosecution.
Meanwhile, Tei, who allegedly offered bribes totalling RM350,000 to the two politicians, is due to face a separate trial from April 20 to 24 this year.
