KUALA LUMPUR (June 10): An investigation into a businessman's complaint against former anti-graft chief Tan Sri Azam Baki has been closed with no further action.
The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) said it had reviewed the investigation paper submitted by the Royal Malaysian Police concerning allegations of criminal intimidation under Section 506 of the Penal Code over a report lodged by Tei Jiann Cheing, better known as Albert Tei.
A comprehensive examination of the case found that the elements required to establish the offence could not be proven, the AGC said in a statement. “As such, the investigation paper has been classified as NFA (no further action).”
Bukit Aman had investigated the case after Tei’s public claim that Azam, the former chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, had sent him threats in connection with an alleged Sabah corruption scandal.
Azam denied the allegations and told police he had never met the businessman or had any dealings with him.
The AGC said in a statement over the weekend that it was reviewing two investigation papers involving Azam, namely allegations of criminal intimidation against Tei and the publication of an article by Bloomberg that allegedly contained defamatory statements.
Meanwhile, Azam filed a defamation suit against Tei at the Shah Alam High Court on Tuesday over statements allegedly made and published about him, which he claimed were false and had tarnished his reputation.
Tei is facing multiple corruption charges linked to efforts to secure mineral exploration licences in Sabah.
In Kuala Lumpur, the 37-year-old was charged with bribing former senior political secretary to the prime minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin with cash, furniture and other benefits worth more than RM200,000.
The alleged inducements were aimed at helping companies linked to Tei obtain approvals for mineral exploration licences in Sabah.
Tei was charged separately in Sabah for giving RM350,000 in bribes to former state assemblymen Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob and Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy. Prosecutors alleged the payments were made to facilitate mineral licence applications involving companies associated with Tei.
Tei has pleaded not guilty to all charges and claimed trial to both cases.