By Timothy Achariam and Emir Mahidzar | The Edge Malaysia
Former senior political secretary to the prime minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin’s lawyer has indicated to the Sessions Court on Thursday that they may submit representations to the Attorney General’s Chambers for a review of his five bribery charges.
Lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad informed Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin of this at a case management here in the morning.
In Malaysia, a letter of representation is a formal written request to the AG or public prosecutor who has constitutional discretion under Article 145(3), to review, amend, reduce, or discontinue criminal charges.
The case management was held for both the prosecution and Shamsul’s lawyers to set timelines for exchanging documents in preparation for the trial.
In the course of setting the dates for the exchange of documents, the prosecution led by deputy public prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan asked for the date to be set on March 11. This was allowed by Suzana.
Farah said the prosecution has not yet shared documents with the defence, as it is still deciding which will be used at trial. Amer, for the defence, raised no objection but asked that any available documents be provided as they become ready.
“…then it will assist our side as well, for us to consider if there is a need to put in representations at this stage,” he said.
Amer told the judge that his client is considering applying to transfer the case from the Sessions Court to the High Court, and said the application would be filed by the March 11 case management date if they proceed.
Shamsul, Tei’s bribery cases moved to KL; both claim trial
After the case management, Shamsul entered the accused dock at the court here to have his one charge for bribery in Shah Alam re-read to him here.
Shamsul was charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court on Dec 5 for bribery involving RM64,924 linked to the approval of mineral exploration licences in Sabah.
Serving as the senior political secretary to the prime minister at the time of the alleged offence, Shamsul is accused of corruptly receiving RM62,924 from businessman Albert Tei Jiann Cheing, 37, at a bank in Country Heights, Kajang, between Nov 28, 2023 and Sept 23, 2024.
The money was allegedly deposited into the bank account of a woman for the purpose of paying rent for a house in Kuala Lumpur, and was purportedly given as an inducement for him to assist companies linked to Tei in obtaining approval for mineral exploration licences in Sabah.
The charge was framed under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
The same charge was re-read to him here on Thursday, and Shamsul pleaded “not guilty” again, as he had done in Shah Alam.
Farah applied for the court to adopt the same bail terms previously imposed on Shamsul in relation to his other criminal charges.
Businessman Tei also had his charge transferred from Shah Alam to the Sessions Court here on Thursday.
Tei is charged with giving a bribe of RM62,924 to Shamsul at a bank in Country Heights, Kajang, between Nov 28, 2023 and Sept 23, 2024.
He claimed trial and pleaded “not guilty” when the charge was re-read to him before Sessions Court judge Rosli bin Ahmad.
Tei was charged with five corruption offences for allegedly offering bribes totalling well over RM176,000 to Shamsul — who has stepped down from his role serving Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim — for the aforementioned Sabah Mineral licence approvals.
Shamsul in turn is charged with five counts of receiving the said bribes.
The charges include cash and goods — such as furniture and electrical appliances — allegedly given between November 2023 and March 2024.
Both men are out on bail with conditions including passport surrender and regular reporting to anti-corruption authorities.
Edited By Presenna Nambiar
