Masked armed men raid Albert Tei home, handcuff him, then bring him back

A group of balaclava clad armed officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today raided the home of Albert Tei, led him out handcuffed before returning to the house.

Lawyer Zaid Malek who rushed to the scene condemned the action, saying it was as if they were arresting a terrorist.

"When I arrived at his house and asked to meet with my client, the MACC officers and the police officers refused entry to the house or to meet my client. 

"No officers had identified themselves. The failure to identify themselves is high-handed and unlawful. They only spoke to me after I took pictures of the incident, illegally asking to take my phone and see the photos I took," he said.

Tei was eventually brought out at 12.50pm. Repeated demands for information from Zaid were ignored by officers.

Earlier, as officers led him out of his house, Tei was heard shouting "Lawan Tetap Lawan", the slogan popularised by Anwar Ibrahim when he led the reformasi movement following his sacking and arrest in 1998.  

Zaid condemned the action as a breach of Tei's constitutional rights to due process.

"His right to counsel is also denied. It is shocking that a whistleblower or corruption informant is being arrested," he said.

"Is this the fair and impartial investigation promised by Anwar Ibrahim from the ceramah stage?"

Today's drama unfolded as Anwar faces his greatest challenge following Tei's shocking expose this week of high-level corruption involving his office.

On Tuesday, Tei - the man behind explosive videos implicating Sabah Chief Minister and GRS chairman Hajiji Noor and 14 ruling politicians in corrupt practices - revealed that he had spent almost RM630,000 on Anwar's political secretary Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin in the hope that the latter would help him negotiate with Hajiji to recover the money he paid to several GRS politicians.

Shamsul has since resigned.

Tei showed proof that he paid for renovations, luxury gifts, tailored suits, appliances, furnishings for two properties, as well as cash totalling about RM350,000 for Shamsul.

Tei also released secretly recorded video of a conversation last week with a woman identified as Shamsul's proxy, who has since identified herself as Sofia Rini Buyong.

In the video, Sofia agreed with Tei's suggestion that the money and gifts he spent on Shamsul were in exchange for help in speaking to Hajiji to recover monies paid to ruling Sabah politicians.

Sofia said it was Shamsul and Anwar's idea that Tei secretly record his conversations with various Sabah politicians, adding that Shamsul had also spoken to Azam about the plan.

She later denied everything she was heard agreeing with Tei, adding that it was a conspiracy to undermine the government.

Yesterday, Sofia went to the MACC headquarters for her statement to be taken.