Kota Kinabalu: The trial of two former assemblymen charged with receiving and giving bribes amounting to RM350,000 over applications for mineral exploration licences in Sabah has been postponed pending the outcome of a High Court Notice of Motion (NOM).
Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus allowed the defence’s application to postpone the hearing for former Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob and Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, whose cases were scheduled for hearing on Monday.
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The court vacated hearing dates on June 16, 18 and 19 following the application and fixed July for e-review to update the status of the case at the High Court.
During proceedings, the court was informed that Dr Yusof and Andi had filed a NOM seeking to transfer their cases to the High Court under Section 417 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
However, the defence said the outcome of the application had yet to be received and no date had been fixed.
On June 30, 2025, both Dr Yusof, 69, and Andi Suryady, 44, who is also Kalabakan MP, claimed trial to the corruption charges against them.
Dr Yusof is accused of receiving a RM200,000 bribe from businessman Datuk Tei Jiann Cheing, also known as Albert Tei, as an inducement to facilitate a prospecting licence application for mineral exploration in Sabah at a hotel here on March 6, 2023.
Andi Suryady is accused of receiving a RM150,000 bribe from Tei for the same purpose at his residence here on May 12, 2023.
Both are 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, upon conviction.
The prosecution previously informed the court that 40 witnesses have been lined up for the case.
Dr Yusof and Andi 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.
The court also extended bail for both accused pending disposal of the case.
Meanwhile, Tei, who allegedly offered bribes totalling RM350,000 to the two politicians, is also awaiting trial, which was also postponed in previous proceedings.
