Muhyiddin wants High Court judge to hear seven charges of abuse of power, money-laundering
KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's defence team informed the Sessions Court here on Wednesday (May 14) that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman had filed an application to have his seven cases transferred to the High Court here on April 4, reports Sinar Harian.
During the case mention before Judge Azura Alwi, lawyer Tang Jia Wearn, representing Muhyiddin, 78, said the cases involve four charges of using his position for bribes amounting to RM232.5mil and three charges under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) involving RM200mil, the Malay language daily reported.
The hearing for the application is set for June 16 before High Court Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin.
"Therefore, I request the court to set a case management date regarding the status of the application," he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Public Prosecutor Noralis Mat said that the prosecution had handed over the remaining list of witnesses for the AMLA cases to the defence.
"We handed over the list this morning," she said, attending alongside Deputy Public Prosecutors Mahadi Jumaat and Wan Nur Iman Wan Ahmad Afzal.
Judge Azura then set July 11 for case management to update on the application status.
She also granted the defence's request to exempt Muhyiddin from attending the case management.
In this proceeding, Muhyiddin was not present in court and was represented by his lawyer.
On April 4, the Pagoh MP had filed an application to transfer the cases to the High Court, arguing that they involve complex legal questions and issues that could present extraordinary difficulties in law.
According to documents sighted by Sinar Harian, the politician said that this is a public interest case that has garnered significant media attention both locally and internationally.
Thus, he requested that the trial be conducted before an experienced High Court judge with the jurisdiction to hear public interest cases.
He believed that transferring the seven cases to the High Court will not cause inconvenience or prejudice and argued that the transfer would facilitate all parties involved and not prejudice any party.
On July 10, 2023, Muhyiddin withdrew his application to transfer his cases to the High Court after his side sent a withdrawal letter to the prosecution on July 5, 2023.
In the withdrawal letter, Muhyiddin also applied to have the charges dismissed, stating that the transfer application would become academic if the dismissal was granted.
Sinar Harian also reported that according to the first to fourth charges, the Pagoh MP is accused of using his position as a public official, namely the Prime Minister of Malaysia and Bersatu president, to solicit RM232.5mil from an individual, Azman Yusoff, 51, and three companies, Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, and Mamfor Sdn Bhd, for the party's allies.
For the fifth to seventh charges, Muhyiddin, as the party's president, is accused of receiving proceeds from illegal activities, amounting to RM200mil from Bukhary Equity, deposited into Bersatu's CIMB Bank and AmBank accounts.
On Aug 15, 2023, Muhyiddin was acquitted and discharged from four charges of using his position for bribes after the High Court allowed his application to dismiss the case.
Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin ruled that the four charges were vague and baseless as they did not specify the details of the offence committed.
However, on Feb 28, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya ordered the four cases to be returned to the Sessions Court for further action.
A three-judge panel, chaired by Justice Hadhariah Syed Ismail, made the unanimous decision after allowing the prosecution's appeal against the High Court's decision to acquit Muhyiddin.
Sitting alongside Justice Hadhariah were Justices Azmi Ariffin and SM Komathy Suppiah.
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