Sabah immigration director Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said that according to a notice under the Immigration Act, Tei would only be allowed to enter the state if he had been officially summoned to attend a court hearing.

“When asked why he was coming into Sabah, Tei said he was here to meet friends. He did not produce any documents, like a court order.

“So banning him from entering the state was in accordance with the law,” she said in a statement.

Sharifah said Tei would be allowed to enter Sabah if he could prove that he had been summoned for a court hearing.

Last night, Malaysiakini reported that Tei had again been barred from entering the state.

According to the businessman, he had arrived at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport at about 3.30pm to attend his court case set for today, but was served with an entry refusal notice.

Earlier today, Tei filed an application to cite caretaker chief minister Hajiji Noor for contempt of court.

On June 30, Tei claimed trial to two charges of giving a total of RM350,000 in bribes to two assemblymen in connection with mineral prospecting licence applications in Sabah.

He is accused of giving RM150,000 and RM200,000 in bribes to assistant state industrial development and entrepreneurship minister Andi Suryady Bandy and Sindumin assemblyman Dr Yusof Yacob, respectively.