KOTA KINABALU : – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained another Sabah State Assemblyman (ADUN) on suspicion of soliciting and accepting bribes worth about RM150,000 involving the issue of mining licenses in the state.
According to sources, the suspect, a man in his 40s, was arrested at about 9.30am today when he appeared to give a statement at the Sabah MACC office.
“The suspect, who is also an Assistant Minister, is believed to have committed the act around 2023 and 2024.
“Investigations also found that the man is suspected of having requested and accepted a bribe worth approximately RM150,000 from an individual with a Datuk title, supposedly to help in the application for a prospecting license in the state,” he said.
Meanwhile, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki when contacted confirmed the arrest and said that the case is being investigated under Section 16 (a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.
He added that the suspect was released after his statement was taken on bail of RM50,000 with one surety.
Earlier, Azam confirmed that two assemblymen and a civilian will face charges related to the Sabah mining scandal, with court proceedings expected to begin by month’s end.
In the first arrest local media outlets named Datuk Yusof Yacob as the first to have been detained on Wednesday last week.
This time Assistant Industrial and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy has been named by local media as the second assemblyman.
The high-profile case centres on allegations that political figures received payments in exchange for facilitating mining approvals.
At least eight assemblymen are believed to be under scrutiny.
The scandal erupted late last year following the release of several covert videos by an online outlet, purportedly showing discussions about political funding tied to mining licences. –thevibes.com
