KOTA KINABALU — A senior official from the Sabah Lands and Surveys Department and a gold mining company executive appeared in the Special Corruption Court here on Tuesday, where both pleaded not guilty to bribery charges involving RM18,000 in cash loans exchanged between April 2024 and October 2025.

Robert Robin Millip, the principal assistant director of the department’s minerals division (contract), and Chong Tzu Khen, the executive director of Wullersdorf Resources Sdn Bhd, face three counts each related to the giving and receiving of bribes. The charges allege that Chong provided cash loans to Robert to facilitate the operations of a gold mining project managed by Wullersdorf Resources.

Under Section 17(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, Chong is accused of corruptly giving Robert a total of RM18,000 in cash loans in three separate transactions. These occurred at various locations in Kota Kinabalu: RM10,000 at a restaurant in Taman Fortuna in April 2024, RM3,000 at a coffee shop in October 2024, and RM5,000 in October 2025.

Correspondingly, Robert faces charges under Section 17(a) of the same Act for receiving these amounts as inducements to aid the company’s gold mining activities.

During the proceedings, Judge Andi Razalijaya A. Dadi granted bail of RM8,000 to each accused, subject to local sureties. Both were ordered to surrender their international and restricted passports and to report monthly to the nearest MACC office. They were also instructed to refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses. The court set October 27 for case management.

The trial reflects ongoing efforts by Malaysian authorities to address corruption within public offices and the mining sector, particularly in resource-rich states such as Sabah. Both Robert and Chong, aged 60, have denied the allegations and are expected to return to court later this month for further directions.