Reports by ALLISON LAI, NURBAITI HAMDAN, DIYANA PFORDTEN, JUSTIN ZACK and FAZLEENA AZIZ
KUALA LUMPUR: A large group of supporters vied with a massive media turnout, shepherded by a keen police presence, as the nation played witness to another chapter in its history as a second former prime minister was charged in court.
At the Sessions Court here, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin claimed trial to four counts of abuse of power and two counts of money laundering, with one more charge expected to be levied on Monday.
According to the first to the fourth charge sheets, Muhyiddin, who was a public servant and the prime minister then, had abused his position for gratification from three entities and an individual for his ally Bersatu.
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He allegedly abused his position for gratification of RM200mil from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, RM1mil from Nepturis Sdn Bhd, RM19.5mil from Mamfor Sdn Bhd and RM12mil from one Azman Yusoff.
All offences involving a total of RM232.5mil in gratification were allegedly committed at the Prime Minister’s Office, Putrajaya, between March 1, 2020, and Aug 20, 2021.
The charges are framed under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
If convicted, he faces imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
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Muhyiddin is also facing another two counts of money laundering involving RM195mil.
For these charges, Muhyiddin is accused of receiving proceeds from illegal activities – RM120mil and RM75mil – from Bukhary Equity, which was deposited into Bersatu’s account.
The offences were allegedly committed at CIMB Bank, Jalan Stesen Sentral between Feb 25, 2021, and July 8, 2022.
The Pagoh MP was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Illegal Activities Act 2001.
He faces imprisonment of up to 15 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.
Dressed in a black suit and white shirt with black pants, Muhyiddin said he understood all the charges and pleaded not guilty to all of them at the Sessions Court yesterday.
It was learned that the cases were supposedly filed at two separate courtrooms.
However, the air-conditioning at one of the courtrooms apparently broke down, and all the charges were eventually read out in one courtroom before one judge.
Solicitor-general Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, who led the prosecution team, proposed bail of RM2mil in two sureties for all the charges, with the accused’s passport to be surrendered to the court pending disposal of his case.
Muhyiddin’s counsel Datuk K. Kumaraendran said the defence team agreed to the bail amount and condition, and hoped the prosecution would submit all documents before the next hearing date.
Judge Azura Alwi then granted bail of RM2mil in two sureties and ordered Muhyiddin to surrender his passport to the court. She also fixed May 26 for mention.
At the end of the proceedings, Ahmad Terrirudin also informed the court that Muhyiddin is expected to face another charge at the Shah Alam Court Complex on Monday.
Muhyiddin, who was accompanied by his wife Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman and family members, posted bail later yesterday and was released.
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Ahmad Terrirudin is leading a 10-person prosecution team while Kumaraendran is the lead defence counsel, assisted by seven other lawyers.
Muhyiddin’s charges came yesterday after he was questioned by the MACC at its headquarters in Putrajaya on Thursday over the Jana Wibawa programme that the government introduced during his tenure as prime minister to help bumiputra contractors during the Covid-19 lockdown.
As his vehicle later pulled out of the court complex at 11.50am, supporters escorted him, chanting “Hidup, hidup, lawan, lawan” (live, live, fight, fight).
The supporters were also reminded to show up at the Shah Alam courts on Monday.
As they left the scene, supporters took the opportunity to thank the police for keeping the peace, chanting “Terima kasih, PDRM (Thanks, PDRM)” before dispersing.
Several Perikatan Nasional leaders were also at the Kuala Lumpur court complex to show their support for Muhyiddin.
Among them were Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu and Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.
