00:00Saba Mineral Management Sindiran Berhad is suing its former CEO, Jonteh Engihon, for
00:06fraud and breach of trust, alleging he conspired to manipulate prospecting licenses in favor
00:11of a businessman.
00:13The lawsuit claims Jonteh abused his position between June 2021 and August 2024 by fraudulently
00:18granting approvals and tampering with board meeting minutes to misrepresent that permissions
00:23had been given to the businessman's companies.
00:26SMM also accuses Jonteh of leaking confidential information in two online videos and accompanying
00:31articles published in November last year mixed with false statements to damage his reputation.
00:37The state-owned company alleges that Jonteh instructed the secretary and technical team
00:41to draft fraudulent letters approving licenses to the businessman's companies, which were
00:45later revoked by SMM's board in September 2023.
00:50Following this, the businessman allegedly confronted SMM's new CEO, Natasha Sim, to
00:55express his dissatisfaction and told her to convey a message to Saba Chief Minister
00:59Haji Jinnur that he was prepared to bring down the state government.
01:03SMM reported the duo to the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, accusing
01:08them of conspiring to cause harm to the company and the Saba government.
01:12SMM is seeking multiple court declarations against Jonteh, including that he acted fraudulently
01:18and breached fiduciary duties, as well as general, aggravated and exemplary damages,
01:23the removal of the videos and articles, and an injunction preventing their republication.
01:28Jonteh previously denied any wrongdoing in the matter and announced plans to file his
01:32own RM30 million lawsuit against SMM and two others, citing a malicious conspiracy to injure
01:38his reputation.
01:41Dhanush Rajareza, FMT News.
Comments