KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 5): Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, a former senior political secretary to the prime minister, has obtained the Sessions Court’s approval for the temporary release of his international passport to enable him to attend several overseas programmes this month.

The passport had been surrendered to the court as an additional bail condition after he was charged with five counts of corruption.

According to his supporting affidavit obtained by the media, Shamsul Iskandar applied for the permanent return of his passport to facilitate overseas travel in connection with his duties.

He said he intends to travel to Frankfurt, Germany, to attend the Frankfurt Book Fair organised by Rex Education from Oct 7 to Nov 11.

“Based on my involvement with the Madani Community Leadership Academy, my participation in the book fair aims to foster synergy between organisations and provide mutual benefits to both entities.

“Therefore, this participation will provide valuable international exposure to support and strengthen ongoing grassroots initiatives aimed at empowering civil society in line with the Madani principles, particularly through the promotion of literacy, leadership and knowledge,” he said in the affidavit.

Shamsul Iskandar also said he had registered to attend the fifth AlBaraka Summit, themed Ethics in Action: Rebuilding Foundations and Advancing the Global Impact of the Islamic Economy, in London scheduled for Oct 13 and 14.

He said the summit aims to strengthen ethical foundations for Islamic financial and non-financial institutions, governance systems and market practices.

Shamsul Iskandar also said he plans to attend programmes in Ireland, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, in November and December.

During Monday's proceedings, lawyer Yusmadi Yusoff, representing Shamsul Iskandar, told Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin that his client had filed an application on Sept 30 for the permanent return of his passport.

He also sought its temporary release to enable Shamsul Iskandar to attend programmes in Frankfurt and London this month.

Deputy public prosecutor Julaila Jamaludin objected to the application for the permanent return of the passport, saying the supporting documents consisted only of an invitation letter and that the discussions could be conducted online.

However, she did not object to the application for its temporary release.

Suzana subsequently allowed the temporary release of Shamsul Iskandar’s passport, effective from Monday, on condition that it be returned to the court on or before Oct 16.

The court also ordered the prosecution to file an affidavit in reply to the application for the permanent return of the passport by Oct 19, with the decision on the application set for Dec 8.

Shamsul Iskandar, 51, faces two charges of agreeing to accept RM140,000 in cash from businessman Tei Jiann Cheing, also known as Albert Tei, as an inducement to assist a company owned by Tei in obtaining approval for a mineral exploration licence in Sabah.

He also faces two charges of obtaining furniture and electrical appliances worth RM14,580.03 and RM22,249 respectively, from Tei for the same purpose.

The offences were allegedly committed at premises in Jalan Medang Serai, Bukit Bandaraya, and a hotel car park in Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, as well as at Jalan P14A 1/1, Precinct 14, Putrajaya, between Nov 24, 2023, and March 5, 2024.

In a separate charge, Shamsul Iskandar is accused of obtaining gratification amounting to RM64,924 from Tei, allegedly deposited into a CIMB Bank account belonging to Rahmalidya Buyong to cover the rental of a house in Jalan Medang Serai, Bukit Bandaraya, in exchange for assisting Tei's company in securing approval for a mineral exploration licence in Sabah.

All five charges were brought under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (Act 694) and are punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which provides for a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of at least five times the amount or value of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

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