Latest news with #OpAdun
New Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Authorities have what they need in Sabah mining graft case, says Masidi
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun has declined to comment further on the state mining prospecting licence scandal, saying the matter is already before the courts and authorities "have what they need." "The case is really in court. "I mean, I don't think there's anything necessary to comment on," he told reporters after the SMJ Energy Networking dinner here last night. In November last year, Masidi was among several assemblymen implicated in short video clips linking them to a corruption scandal, which the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) dubbed "Op Adun". Following the publication of his video on Malaysiakini in December, Masidi immediately volunteered to have his statement recorded at the Sabah MACC office here. When asked whether the commission had recently recalled him, he said: "I wouldn't answer that question too, but I suppose MACC probably has all that they wanted." Last week, Malaysiakini again published photos of several other Gabungan Rakyat Sabah assemblymen, including state deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, linking them to a similar scandal. The article was published less than 48 hours before businessman Datuk Albert Tei and two Sabah assemblymen, namely, Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob and Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, were charged at the Kota Kinabalu Court here. Tei pleaded not guilty to offering bribes, while both assemblymen also denied receiving graft from the businessman. Their case management is fixed for Aug 5.
New Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Sabah assemblymen graft: Businessman wants ex-MACC head Latheefa Koya on his team
KOTA KINABALU: Businessman Datuk Albert Tei, who was charged with graft today, says he plans to engage former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Latheefa Koya as counsel for his defence. Tei, 37, from Selangor, was charged with two counts of giving bribes to two Sabah assemblymen and pleaded not guilty. ( Tei's counsel, Edward Paul, said this was an unusual case where the complainant is also charged alongside the receivers. "It's quite unusual, but we are prepared for it, and he's very adamant about clearing his name on both charges," he told reporters after the court proceedings. He said they will be filing an ad-hoc admission application for Latheefa to join Tei's legal team. However, he did not disclose the exact date when the application would be filed, only saying that it would be "soon". Batholomew Jingulam and Jul Hamri Jumhani also represented Tei. Latheefa, who is also the adviser of the rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), is a peninsular-based lawyer who has been consulting Tei regarding the Op Adun cases. Applications for the ad-hoc admission of counsel from outside Sabah are made pursuant to Section 10 of the Advocates Ordinance. Op Adun is the investigation into the involvement of Sabah assemblymen in the issuance of mining licences.
Borneo Post
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Op Adun: Two Sabah assemblymen, businessman arrive in court to face corruption charges
Photo shows the Kota Kinabalu Court Complex. — Bernama photo KOTA KINABALU (June 30): Two Sabah assemblymen and a businessman have arrived at the Kota Kinabalu Court Complex to face corruption charges under Op Adun. The businessman was the first to arrive at 8.39am. About nine minutes later at 8.48am, an assemblyman, who is also a member of parliament, walked into the courthouse followed by the second assemblyman. All three are expected to face four charges under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 at the Special Corruption Court here this morning. The MACC arrested the men under Op Adun in connection with the Sabah mining scandal. Op Adun Sabah mining scandal
New Straits Times
29-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Op Adun: Two Sabah assemblymen, businessman to be charged tomorrow
KOTA KINABALU: Two state assemblymen and a businessman, hauled up by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) under Op Adun, are scheduled to be charged tomorrow. In a media invitation, the Sabah MACC said the trio are expected to be charged at the Special Corruption Court here at about 9am. They will face a total of four charges under the MACC Act 2009. Two of the charges will be brought under Section 16(b)(A) of the Act for offering bribes, while the other two will be under Section 16(a)(A) for accepting bribes. Op Adun is an investigation into the involvement of Sabah assemblymen in the issuance of mining licences. Authorities began their probe following the publication of a series of edited videos by a news portal in November last year. It was reported earlier this week that the MACC had arrested another Sabah assemblyman on suspicion of soliciting and receiving bribes amounting to about RM150,000 in connection with mining licences in the state. The suspect, who serves as an assistant to a minister, was detained when he turned up to provide his statement at the Sabah MACC office at 9.30am on June 23. The man, in his 40s, is the third state assemblyman arrested by the MACC to date in connection with the corruption investigation. MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki had previously said that the commission is expected to charge three individuals under the ongoing Op Adun probe. He was reported as saying that the trio, comprising two assemblymen and a civilian, were expected to be charged by the end of this month.
![[UPDATED] Another Sabah assemblyman arrested over corruption linked to state mining licences](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2FMACC_SPRM_1750665356.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
New Straits Times
23-06-2025
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] Another Sabah assemblyman arrested over corruption linked to state mining licences
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested another Sabah assemblyman on suspicion of soliciting and receiving bribes amounting to about RM150,000 in connection with mining licences in the state. Sources said the suspect, who serves as an assistant to a minister, was detained when he turned up to provide his statement at the Sabah MACC office at 9.30am today. The suspect, in his 40s, is the third state assemblyman arrested by the MACC to date to assist in investigations into corruption related to the issuance of mining licences in Sabah. "The suspect is believed to have committed the offence between 2023 and 2024. "Investigations also revealed that he allegedly solicited and received about RM150,000 in bribes from an individual with the title 'Datuk', supposedly to facilitate a mining licence application in the state," a source said. Meanwhile, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, when contacted, confirmed the latest arrest in connection with the case. He said the case is being investigated under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009. Azam also said the suspect was released on bail of RM50,000 with one surety after having his statement recorded and will be charged in court soon. Azam had previously said that the MACC is expected to charge three individuals under the ongoing Op Adun investigation. He was reported as saying that the trio, consisting two assemblymen and one civilian, are expected to be charged at the Kota Kinabalu Corruption Court by the end of this month. Op Adun investigates the involvement of Sabah assemblymen in the issuance of mining licences.
