Sabah Scandal Bersatu Vp Raises Alarm Over Selective Prosecution

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PARLIAMENT | Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) has alleged selective prosecution in the Sabah corruption scandal involving eight assemblypersons.
The Bersatu vice-president questioned why only two have been charged, while the other six - all holding positions in the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition - have yet to face action.
“Two of them (out of the eight implicated in the scandal) have been charged in court. But the question is, what action will be taken against the other six?
“The two charged are among those who do not hold any positions in GRS.
ADS“Is this unintended, or was it done selectively?” he asked while debating the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Alleged bribes for prospecting licences
On June 30, Albert Tei, the businessperson-turned-whistleblower in the scandal, claimed trial to two counts of giving bribes under Section 16(b)(B) of the MACC Act 2009.
He is accused of bribing Sabah Assistant Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Andi Suryady Bandy and Sindumin assemblyperson Yusof Yacob to help with obtaining mineral prospecting licences.
Albert TeiAndi - who is Kalabakan MP - was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act, which 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.
Yusof, who is Qhazanah Sabah chairperson, was charged with receiving RM200,000 in cash from Tei at the Hilton Hotel’s rooftop bar in Kota Kinabalu on March 6, 2023. The bribe was allegedly meant to help process a prospecting licence for Syarikat Nusa Kini Sdn Bhd.
Tei had released more evidence over the weekend before the hearing, purportedly implicating six more politicians in the mining scandal.
Those implicated include the top leaders of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), both key components of the ruling GRS coalition.
Star president Jeffrey Kitingan and PBS deputy president Jahid Jahim have denied the accusations levelled against them. - Mkini

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