KOTA KINABALU: Businessman Datuk Albert Tei has denied claims that a Singaporean tycoon is bankrolling him, insisting he has never received a single sen from the individual.
Tei, initially barred from entering Sabah upon arriving at Kota Kinabalu International Airport on Monday (Sept 22) afternoon, said the claims only surfaced after he was charged on June 30 with offering bribes to two Sabah assemblymen.
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“The tycoon has never given me a single sen. If anyone says so, prove it. Show the evidence,” he told reporters outside the courthouse after attending pre-trial case management at the Kota Kinabalu Special Corruption Court on Tuesday (Sept 23).
He said investigations into the supposed tycoon were based merely on “rumours” that began circulating two days after his (Tei’s) name was revealed to the media three months ago.
“I deny it. If I had paid any YBs (Yang Berhormat) or Umno, show proof. Investigate me.
“Until today, three months on, there is still no evidence. I have nothing to lose. If you want to charge me, go ahead. But at the same time, charge the (remaining) YBs whose video I exposed,” he said.
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Tei explained that his business ventures were joint partnerships and not financed by external parties.
“A JV (joint venture) means I handle one part, my partner handles another. We have agreements. We are partners, not financiers. Do not trust the outside media claims … the allegation of financing is false,” he stressed.
Tei also questioned why he had been blacklisted from entering the state last month, describing the move as malicious and politically motivated.
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He claimed that the blacklist order came from the Chief Minister’s Department and argued that attempts to block him from attending court were meant to derail the ongoing case involving two state assemblymen.
The self-declared “whistleblower” was reported to have earlier released at least nine video clips implicating several state assemblymen in alleged bribery involving mineral prospecting licence approvals in Sabah.
On June 30, Tei, Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob and Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy claimed trial to giving or receiving bribes totalling RM350,000 in relation to the prospecting scandal.
