Sabah immigration authority has again barred businessperson Albert Tei from entering the state this afternoon, a day before he is scheduled to appear at the Kota Kinabalu Session Court for his corruption case.
However, Tei and the Sabah Immigration Department have given conflicting accounts of what had transpired that led to the whistleblower in the mining licence scandal being turned away.
According to Tei (above), he arrived at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) about 3.30pm to attend his court case set for tomorrow, but was instead served with an entry refusal notice purportedly under the instruction of caretaker Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor.
His lawyer, Mahajoth Singh, condemned the authority's action, which he described as tantamount to obstruction of justice.
"Today, for the second time, my client has been barred from entering Sabah, despite being required to attend the mention of his criminal case at the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court tomorrow morning.
"This is an extraordinary and indefensible act. How is my client expected to defend himself in court if he is physically prevented from entering the very state where the court sits?
"This is not merely administrative overreach; it appears to be a deliberate obstruction of the due administration of justice," Mahajoth said in a statement.
The lawyer added that he has been instructed to file a contempt application against those responsible for hindering his client from going to court.
‘Sightseeing, meeting friends’
However, in response to the allegation, immigration said Tei was turned away because he allegedly told officers that he came to Sabah for sightseeing and to meet friends.
"Passenger (Albert) Tei Jiann Cheing arrived at KKIA about 3.30pm on flight MH2614 from Kuala Lumpur.
"Checks on the system showed that he still has an active 'notis amaran Sabah' (Sabah alert notice) and is only to be allowed entry to Sabah if he is summoned to attend a court trial.
"However, when he was questioned by the officers on duty, the passenger said his intention to visit Sabah was only to 'berjalan-jalan' (sightseeing) and to meet friends.
"The passenger did not provide any document related to him being summoned to court. Thus, the KKIA Immigration Office issued him an entry refusal notice due to the active alert notice," the department said in a statement to Malaysiakini.
CM’s instructions allegation
Tei is facing two corruption charges at the Kota Kinabalu court, where he was accused of offering bribes to incumbent Tanjung Batu assemblyperson Andi Suryady Bandy and incumbent Sindumin assemblyperson Yusof Yacob.
This was the second time Sabah authorities had blocked Tei from entering the state.
He was stopped upon arrival at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport on Sept 22, also to attend his court case, purportedly because of a restriction from the Chief Minister’s Office.
However, Tei was later allowed in for two days to attend his court case. - Mkini
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