{
  "id": 10376788,
  "title": "CEO, civil servant charged with bribery over Tawau gold mine project",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/ceo-civil-servant-charged-with-bribery-over-tawau-gold-mine-project",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T05:32:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/09/1542842/ceo-civil-servant-charged-bribery-over-tawau-gold-mine-project"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A CEO and a civil servant appeared in the Special Corruption Court in Kota Kinabalu to face charges of bribery, allegedly related to a Tawau gold mine project. Chong Tzu Khen, 69, and Robert Robin Millip, 60, pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include receiving and giving bribes. Chong allegedly gave RM18,000 in bribes to Robert in exchange for facilitating gold mining operations by Wullersdorf Resources Sdn Bhd. The bribery took place in the form of cash loans given to Robert, totaling RM10,000 in April 2024, and RM3,000 and RM5,000 in October 2024 and 2025, respectively. Both men were charged under Section 17 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, with sentences of up to 20 years in prison and substantial fines upon conviction. They were released on RM8,000 bail with strict conditions, including monthly MACC office visits and not leaving Malaysia without court permission.",
  "summary": "KOTA KINABALU: A chief executive officer (CEO) and a civil servant claimed trial at the Special Corruption Court here today to separate charges involving an RM18,000 bribe linked to a gold mining operation in Tawau.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}