Civil servant, ex‑CEO plead not guilty to RM18,000 gold mining graft charges

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 28 — A civil servant and a former chief executive officer have pleaded not guilty in a Malaysian court to corruption charges involving RM18,000 in bribes. Robert Robin Millip, 60, an assistant director at the Sabah Lands and Surveys Department, and Chong Tzu Khen, 69, are accused of providing cash loans to facilitate gold mining operations in Sabah.

Chong allegedly gave Robert RM18,000 in three installments as an inducement to help the company's mining activities. Both men are charged under Section 17(a) and (b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, facing up to 20 years in prison and heavy fines if convicted. Judge Andi Razalijaya A Dadi granted bail of RM8,000 each and imposed various conditions, including monthly MACC office visits and surrender of international passports. The case is set to be managed on Oct 27, with a trial date of Jan 11 to 13, 2027.