Albert vows to keep fighting, has more shocking evidence

Summary

• Albert Tei says he has more evidence to expose that politicians are not expecting.

• He also questions why only small fry are charged and not sharks.

Businessperson Albert Tei has vowed to keep fighting after he was charged with giving bribes in the Sabah corruption scandal today.

Tei, who blew the whistle and exposed the graft, said he has more evidence that many are not expecting, and will not be worn down by a lengthy legal process.

In a statement to Malaysiakini, Tei said the evidence will come to light when the time is right.

“I want to tell all these big fish. I still hold a lot of evidence that they don’t expect, and it doesn’t just involve assemblypersons who have been exposed.

“I will expose more filth and wrongdoing when the time is right,” he said.

Over the weekend, slivers of evidence emerged purportedly implicating six more politicians in the mining scandal.

Those implicated include the top leaders of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), both key components of the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government.

Star president Jeffrey Kitingan and PBS deputy president Jahid Jahim have denied the accusations levelled against them.

Denial of charges

Tei today claimed trial to two counts of giving bribes under Section 16(b)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.

He is accused of bribing Assistant Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Andi Suryady Bandy and Sindumin assemblyperson Yusof Yacob to get help with mineral prospecting licences.

The charges come more than seven months after the scandal was first exposed.

Speaking to reporters outside the Kota Kinabalu Court Complex, Tei said he has been cooperating with the MACC since October, and lamented that the lengthy process, as well as the decision to charge him together with those who took bribes, appeared to be aimed at wearing him down.

“Yes, charge two people today, I guarantee you - tomorrow, they’ll charge one or two more (whistleblowers).

“I will fight for justice. Don’t think this is the way to pressure me,” he said after posting bail.

He also warned that the MACC’s actions could deter future whistleblowers.

What about the sharks?

Tei lamented that despite all the evidence he submitted - including documentation implicating Sabah ministers and even the speaker of the Sabah state assembly - only two were charged.

“So I want to ask - when small fries like us are caught and charged, what about the sharks still out there?” he said.

“Only two people were charged. What about the other seven? Especially Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.

“And that evidence is even stronger than what they have on these two individuals. So why were only these two picked? Is it because their connections aren’t strong?” he asked.

“What has the MACC been doing for the past eight or nine months? I want to ask - is it really that hard to investigate these YBs?” he asked.

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