Malaysia’s prosecutors have closed a criminal intimidation investigation involving former anti-corruption chief Azam Baki, saying a complaint by businessman Albert Tei did not “meet the legal threshold” for further action.
The decision comes against the backdrop of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government facing pressure over prosecutorial independence. Anwar had campaigned on a reformist, anti-corruption platform that has since been tested by high-profile dropped cases and delayed institutional reforms.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) said it had reviewed an investigation paper submitted by police over Tei’s complaint against Azam under Section 506 of the Penal Code, which covers criminal intimidation.
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“After a comprehensive review of the investigation paper, it was found that the elements of criminal intimidation under Section 506 of the Penal Code could not be proven,” the AGC said.
“Therefore, the investigation paper has been decided to be classified as NFA,” it added, referring to “no further action”.
Tei, whose full name is Tei Jiann Cheing, had alleged he was threatened after making claims linked to a Sabah mining scandal that has drawn in former state assemblymen and Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, Anwar’s former senior political secretary.