Macc Nabs Shamsul Albert And Woman In Video Denies Pointing Gun

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MACC has detained three individuals involved in corruption allegations against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s former aide, Shamsul Iskandar Akin.
Those detained by the graft busters include Shamsul himself, businessperson Albert Tei, and a woman identified as Sofia Rini Buyong.
In a statement today, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said that while Tei was initially expected to present himself on Dec 1, he was later informed to appear earlier, but “refused to do so and did not cooperate with MACC’s investigations.”
“Tei was detained today at 10.15am at his residence,” Azam (above) said.
The nation’s top anti-graft officer added that the MACC has also issued Tei a notice under Section 28A(9) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which Azam said grants investigating authorities the power to deny an accused’s right to communicate with lawyers or other parties.
No weapon pointed
In a separate statement, Azam also denied claims that the anti-graft agency’s officers had pointed a weapon at Tei during his arrest.
Instead, he insisted that the arrest carried out by MACC officers at the businessperson’s residence today was conducted in accordance with established procedures.
A police report, he added, has been lodged to enable an investigation by the relevant authorities into the “slander” made against the MACC officers involved.
A video screenshot showing businessperson Albert Tei being taken away by MACC officers outside his residence“The police report is also to ensure that no parties disseminate any unverified information, possibly with the intention of disrupting the investigation currently being undertaken by MACC,” Azam said.
Tei’s wife, who wished only to be known as Lee, previously told Malaysiakini that MACC officers were heavy-handed when raiding her home today, with the officers pointing a gun at her husband before handcuffing him.
Azam said the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court has granted a four-day remand application until Dec 1 against Sofia, who was detained at 10.30pm yesterday when she presented herself at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya to assist with investigations.
‘Be patient, don’t speculate’
MACC has similarly detained Shamsul, who is also the Malacca PKR chief, after he arrived at the MACC headquarters at around 12pm today.
“MACC is expected to file remand applications for (Tei) and (Shamsul) at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court tomorrow morning,” Azam said.
Affirming that any party who questions the detention of the three individuals has the right to challenge the matter in court, Azam said MACC will conduct its investigations professionally and fairly, in accordance with the rule of law.
“I have instructed my investigation officers to complete the investigation within one week and submit it to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for a decision as soon as possible.
“I urge all parties to be patient and not to speculate on this case,” he added.
Tei’s bombshell revelations
Anwar Ibrahim’s former aide Shamsul Iskandar Akin (left) and businessperson Albert TeiTei has been on a warpath to take down politicians whom he allegedly gave money to for mineral exploration licences, which he did not end up getting.
His latest accusation was levelled against Shamsul, whom Tei claimed he had spent RM629,000 on after being assured that the PKR man could aid in recouping monies channelled to politicians in Sabah.
Besides funding renovations, appliances, and furnishings for two properties, Tei alleged he had spent thousands of ringgit on premium cigars and tailored suits for Shamsul, who also purportedly requested money from the businessperson while travelling abroad.
Videos released on social media also depicted Tei’s conversation with a woman, whose face was blurred out in the recordings, but has since been identified as Sofia, an alleged proxy for Shamsul.
In the recordings, the woman told the businessperson that Anwar had given his blessings for the Sabah politicians to be secretly recorded.
She also claimed that Shamsul had met with Azam at an undisclosed time to ask the MACC chief to “settle” the Sabah mining scandal case involving Tei, prompting calls for the national agency and Azam to be recused from the probe on Shamsul.
Lawyer Mahajoth SinghTei’s lawyer, Mahajoth Singh, has also urged Azam to resign or go on garden leave pending the appointment of an independent and truly impartial investigative body.
Shamsul has since lodged a police report against Tei, claiming that the slanderous accusations detailed in the video recordings are a clear and sinister conspiracy to tarnish Anwar’s image.
However, Shamsul did not indicate whether his police complaint also targeted Tei’s assertions of having spent money on him. - Mkini

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