Albert, Shamsul to be charged tomorrow, hundreds of thousands frozen

The MACC has confirmed that businessperson Albert Tei and Shamsul Iskandar Akin, the former political aide to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, will be charged in two courts.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said Tei (above, right) and Shamsul will each face five charges under the MACC Act 2009 for giving and receiving bribes.

“(For Tei), he will be charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court tomorrow with four counts under Section 17(a) for offering bribes and one count of the same charge at the Shah Alam Sessions Court on Friday.

“Shamsul will also be charged with four counts under Section 17(b) for receiving bribes at the Kuala Lumpur court tomorrow and one of the same charge at the Shah Alam court the next day,” he told a press conference today.

Previously, Azam confirmed that Tei, Shamsul, and another woman identified as Sofia Rini Buyong had been arrested on Nov 28 to assist in the investigation, following the businessperson’s latest accusation levelled against the Malacca PKR chief three days prior.

In the press conference today, Azam added that Sofia will not face charges as she has been reclassified as MACC’s witness in this case.

He added that MACC has frozen some hundreds of thousands of ringgit tracked during their investigation into this case, which are now considered as evidence.

‘Not a whistleblower’

Azam also reiterated that Tei is not recognised as a whistleblower due to his alleged involvement in facilitating corruption in this case.

He added that although an individual who facilitated a crime lodges a report with law enforcement, they cannot be considered a whistleblower under the Whistleblower Protection Act of 2010, due to their involvement in the case.

Tei 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.

He claimed that he spent RM629,000 on Shamsul after being assured that the latter could aid in recouping monies channelled to politicians in Sabah.

Besides funding renovations, appliances, and furnishings for two properties, Tei alleged he spent thousands of ringgit on premium cigars and tailored suits for Shamsul, who also purportedly requested money from the businessperson while travelling abroad.

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