Azam Baki sues businessman Albert Tei for defamation

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki is suing businessman Albert Tei Jiann Cheing for defamation over statements about him in a podcast, YouTube Shorts and related online platforms.

According to a statement issued by Messrs Zain Megat & Murad, who represented Azam as the plaintiff, the writ of summons and statement of claim were filed at the Shah Alam High Court yesterday (June 8).

Azam was seeking damages and a permanent injunctive relief against Tei over the statements which he contended were false and defamatory.

"Azam maintains that the allegations are baseless and untrue and has commenced these proceedings to vindicate his reputation and good name built over nearly four decades of public service," the statement said.

Tei, who was met by reporters after his court proceedings today, said he had yet to be served with the writ of summons.

Earlier, during the case mention before Sessions Court judge Rosli Ahmad, Deputy Public Prosecutor M. Esther Jacyntha told the court that the prosecution had handed over 38 documents to the defence team in adherence to Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The prosecution also moved to have Tei's case to be jointly tried with Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin's case, pending a decision by the Court of Appeal to decide in an appeal by Shamsul.

Shamsul Iskandar had applied to transfer his case from the Sessions Court to the High Court but it was rejected.

He is appealing the decision.

Lawyer Mahajoth Singh, who represented Tei, confirmed that the defence had received the 38 documents.

Judge Rosli then fixed July 24 for mention.

Tei, whose real name is Tei Jiann Cheing, 37, was charged with four counts of giving a bribe of RM140,000 in cash and furniture, including electrical goods worth RM14,580.03 and RM22,249 to Shamsul Iskandar, who was the former senior political secretary to the Prime Minister.

The bribe was an inducement for Shamsul Iskandar to help companies that Tei had interests in obtain approval for mineral exploration licences in Sabah.

All the offences were allegedly committed at the car park of a hotel in Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Jalan Medang Serai, Bukit Bandaraya, here and Precinct 14, Putrajaya, between Nov 24 2023 and March 5 2024.

Tei is also charged with giving a bribe amounting to RM64,924 to Shamsul Iskandar at a bank in Country Heights, Kajang, between Nov 28 2023 and Sept 23 2024.

All charges were brought under Section 17 (b) of the MACC Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 24 (1) of the same act and provides imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe or RM10,000, or whichever is higher, if convicted. - THE STAR