KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 28): Sabah-based gold mining firm Aumas Resources Bhd (KL:AUMAS) said on Monday its chief executive officer Chong Tzu Khen will be on administrative leave until further notice after he was charged with three counts of corruption at the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court on Monday.
Chong, 68, was charged under Section 17(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 for allegedly offering of giving a total of RM18,000 in bribes, according to a bourse filing.
Chong pleaded not guilty to committing the offences between April 2024 and October 2025, and was granted bail, according to Aumas Resources.
No charges have been brought against Aumas Resources or any of its subsidiaries, the company said.
Aumas Resources said Chong voluntarily took administrative leave from his executive and management duties at the company and its wholly owned subsidiary Wullersdorf Resources Sdn Bhd pending the outcome of the case.
The company said the administrative leave is an interim measure and the board is not making any determination on the charges.
Wullersdorf Resources’ operations will continue under its senior management, it said.
He first joined the company, then known as Bahvest Resources Bhd, as an executive director in May 2023 and was appointed CEO five days later, succeeding Lo Fui Ming, who resigned amid challenges including boardroom disputes, a regulatory raid and a suspension of mining operations.
Chong stepped down from both positions in July 2025 but was reappointed on May 1.
Aumas Resources, through Wullersdorf Resources, operates the Andrassy gold project, which is operated under an exclusive prospecting and contract of work agreement with prospecting licence-holder Aurelius Borneo Mining Sdn Bhd, and the Bukit Mantri gold mine.
Earlier this month, Aumas Resources announced a maiden mineral resource estimate of 110,000 ounces of contained gold for the Andrassy project.
Shares of Aumas Resources were unchanged at 34.5 sen at Monday’s market close, giving the company a market capitalisation of RM628.4 million.