THE corruption trial of former senior political aide Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin has been ordered to be heard together with four additional charges linked to the approval of mineral prospecting licences in Sabah, sources confirmed.
Judge Suzana Hussin granted the prosecution’s application to consolidate the cases, as requested by Deputy Public Prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan.
The defence, represented by Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, did not oppose the application.
“The court allows the prosecution’s request for the case to be tried together and sets 11 March for the mention of the case for document submission,” Judge Suzana said.
Farah Ezlin had earlier sought an extension to provide both the defence and the court with the relevant case documents, citing the need to review materials to determine what will be used at trial.
Amer Hamzah said the defence did not oppose the consolidation but requested that the documents currently available be handed over first.
“After reviewing the documents, we will consider whether to submit representations if there are any deficiencies or issues. We are also examining the possibility of applying to transfer the case to the High Court due to legal issues concerning the charges to be challenged,” he said.
Shamsul was first charged on 4 December at the Shah Alam Sessions Court with agreeing to receive RM100,000 in cash from businessman Albert Tei Jiann Cheing as an inducement to assist Tei’s companies in securing mineral prospecting licences in Sabah, despite the matter being unrelated to Shamsul’s principal duties.
He faces additional charges of receiving RM40,000 in cash and further bribes in the form of furniture and electrical items valued at RM14,580.03 and RM22,249 from the same individual for similar purposes.
These alleged offences took place at various locations in Shah Alam and Putrajaya between November 2023 and March 2024.
On 5 December, Shamsul was also charged in Shah Alam with accepting RM62,924 from Tei, which was deposited into a woman’s bank account to pay rent for a property in Kuala Lumpur.
The prosecution alleges the payment was intended to facilitate Tei’s companies in obtaining the Sabah mineral licences.
All charges fall under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (Act 694) and carry penalties under Section 24(1), including a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of at least five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
In a separate but related proceeding, Judge Rosli Ahmad allowed the prosecution to consolidate charges against Albert Tei with four other bribery allegations facing him in the same court, setting 13 March as the date for document submission.
Tei had previously been charged in Shah Alam Sessions Court with offering RM100,000 and RM40,000 in cash, along with furniture and electrical items worth RM14,580.03 and RM22,249, to Shamsul as inducements to assist his companies in obtaining mineral prospecting licences in Sabah.
He also faced a separate charge of providing RM64,924, deposited into a third party’s bank account, for the same purpose.
All charges against Tei also fall under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act and carry the same penalties under Section 24(1). - January 25, 2026
