The Sabah Immigration Department has defended its decision to turn away whistleblower Albert Tei from entering the state on Wednesday, a day before he was scheduled to attend the mention of his case at the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court.

Its director Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said it was Tei's responsibility to inform and produce the necessary letter to the officer on duty upon his arrival at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA).