KUALA LUMPUR – Former political secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, was today charged with four counts of corruption amounting to RM176,829.03 in connection with mineral exploration licence approval in Sabah.
The 50-year-old pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before Judge Suzana Hussin at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
“I understand (the charges), (I) plead not guilty and request trial,” Bernama quoted him saying.
Earlier, Shamsul, along with businessman Albert Tei, were brought to the Kuala Lumpur Court complex in a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) van at 8.03am.
Shamsul is charged with accepting bribes for himself in the form of RM100,000 in cash from 37-year-old Tei, at the car park of a hotel in Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Kuala Lumpur, on Nov 24, 2023.
The bribe was allegedly given as an inducement to help companies owned by Tei obtain mineral exploration licence approval in Sabah, although the matter had nothing to do with the affairs of the accused principal.
Shamsul is also charged with receiving a bribe of RM40,000 in cash from Tei for the same purpose at a premises in Jalan Medang Serai, Bukit Bandaraya, on Jan 29, 2024.
In addition, he is also charged with two other counts of receiving bribes in the form of furniture and electrical goods worth RM14,580.03 and RM22,249 from the same individual for the same purpose.
All the offences were allegedly committed at premises in Jalan Medang Serai, Bukit Bandaraya, between 7 Dec 2023 and 31 Jan 2024, as well as at Jalan P14a 1/1, Precinct 14, Putrajaya, between 26 Feb and 5 March 2024.
He was charged under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Judge Suzana set January 8 next year as the mention date for the case and allowed bail of RM150,000 with two Malaysian sureties.
The court also imposed three additional conditions, namely that the accused must report to the MACC office near his residence once a month, surrender his passport until the case is concluded, and not interfere with prosecution witnesses.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib, Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan and Nurul Qistini Qamarul Abrar prosecuted, while Shamsul Iskandar was represented by lawyers Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff and Joshua Tay.
Tei claims trial
Meanwhile, Tei, whose registered name is Tei Jiann Cheng, also pleaded not guilty to four counts of giving RM176,829.03 to Shamsul.
“I understand (the charges). I plead not guilty and claim trial,” Bernama quoted him saying after the charges were read to him before Judge Suzana.
He is accused of giving Shamsul cash and household items on several occasions between November 2023 and March this year, as an inducement for his companies to obtain mineral exploration licences in Sabah.
The charges against Tei were framed under Section 17(b) of the MACC Act, for allegedly giving bribes. Upon conviction, Tei could also be jailed for up to 20 years, or fined not less than five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
DPP Farah urged the court to fix bail at RM300,000 in view of the seriousness of the offence. She also said that Tei had been uncooperative during the investigation and posed a flight risk, as he had business interests in Singapore.
Lawyer Latheefa Koya, representing Tei, opposed Farah’s assertions and said that her client had cooperated fully with the authorities.
The court then fixed bail at RM70,000 with two sureties and ordered the accused to surrender his passport to the court.
Tei was also instructed to report to the MACC headquarters once a month. The court then fixed January 8 for a case mention.
Both Shamsul and Tei are set to face similar graft charges at the Shah Alam Sessions Court tomorrow.
The MACC said a third person initially arrested in connection with the case – a woman called Sofia Rini Buyong- would be called as a prosecution witness in the case.
Shamsul resigned as Anwar’s senior political secretary on November 25. – December 4, 2025