By Hafiz Yatim | The Edge Malaysia
Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin has applied to transfer his five graft charges to the High Court.
The application, filed on Feb 4, had a case management session on Monday with senior assistant registrar Nur Azizah Jaafar, and the hearing is set for April 9 before High Court judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin.
Shamsul Iskandar was represented by counsel Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad and Joshua Tay, while Deputy Public Prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusof Khan appeared for the prosecution.
Shamsul Iskandar, former senior political secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said in an affidavit that his case involves complex constitutional and legal issues under the Federal Constitution and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009 concerning political contributions. He argued that transferring the case would help properly resolve these issues.
He added that a High Court trial would allow appeals up to the Federal Court, especially for issues involving the Constitution.
On Dec 4, 2025, Shamsul Iskandar was charged at the Sessions Court with agreeing to accept RM100,000 in cash from businessman Albert Tei Jiann Cheing, 37, as an inducement to help Tei’s companies obtain mineral exploration licences in Sabah, although the matter was not related to his official duties.
He also faces a charge of accepting RM40,000 in cash from the same individual for the same purpose, in addition to two counts of receiving bribes in the form of furniture and electrical appliances valued at RM14,580.03 and RM22,249, respectively.
The offences were allegedly committed at premises in Jalan Medang Serai, Bukit Bandaraya; at a hotel car park in Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin here; and at Jalan P14a 1/1, Precinct 14, Putrajaya, between Dec 7, 2023 and Jan 31, 2024, as well as between Nov 24, 2023 and March 5, 2024.
On Dec 5 last year, he was charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court with one count of corruptly obtaining RM62,924 from Tei at a bank in Country Heights, Kajang between Nov 28, 2023 and Sept 23, 2024.
The sum was allegedly deposited into a woman’s bank account for the rental of a house in Kuala Lumpur, as an inducement to assist Tei’s companies in securing mineral exploration licences in Sabah.
All charges including in Shah Alam have been transferred to the KL court, are framed under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009 (Act 694), and are punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
If found guilty, Shamsul Iskandar stands to face a maximum imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Edited By Presenna Nambiar
