PUTRAJAYA (Dec 3): Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said that Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, a former senior political secretary to the prime minister, and businessman Albert Tei Jiann Cheing will be charged for corruption on Thursday.
At a press conference at the MACC heaquarters here on Wednesday, Azam said that both men will be charged at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex on Thursday as well as the Shah Alam Court Complex on Friday.
He said both men will face five charges involving offering and receiving bribes under the MACC Act 2009.
Azam said that Shamsul will be charged under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009 for receiving bribes, while Tei will be charged under Section 17(b) of the same Act for offering or giving bribes.
He also clarified that Sofia Rini Buyong will not be prosecuted as she is a prosecution witness.
On Nov 28, the MACC announced the arrest of three people: Shamsul, Tei and Sofia.
Azam said the MACC began its investigation based on a news report by a local online news portal in early November.
Specifically, the investigation relates to alleged bribes paid by Tei to recover funds said to have been distributed to several Sabah state assemblymen.
Azam said that the MACC had concluded its investigation and is proceeding with charging both men.
WATCH: Shamsul and Tei to be charged tomorrow
On Nov 25, Tei linked Shamsul to the Sabah mining scandal. He allegedly spent RM629,000 on Shamsul with promises the funds would be recovered through political channels in Sabah.
The businessman claimed he was introduced to Shamsul by a woman he described as the aide’s proxy, Sofia.
However, Sofia denied being a proxy for the former political secretary, saying accusations against her are “lies and slander”.
Shamsul resigned as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s senior political secretary on Nov 25.