KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court on Wednesday (July 3) granted Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's application for the temporary return of his passport to allow him to attend his granddaughter's graduation ceremony in London.
Judge Rozina Ayob allowed the application after Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Asma Ahmad informed the court that the prosecution did not object to the application.
"The passport is handed over to the accused (Muhyiddin) today, and it must be returned to the court on Aug 20," Judge Rozina said.
Earlier, lawyer Datuk Seri K. Kumaraendran, representing Muhyiddin, informed the court that his client would depart for London on July 19 and is expected to return to Malaysia on Aug 15.
When asked by Judge Rozina why the accused wanted the passport early, the lawyer said it was to allow the accused to obtain clearance from the Immigration Department in advance.
According to the supporting affidavit for the application, Muhyiddin stated that he and his wife would attend the graduation ceremony of their eldest granddaughter on July 23 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London.
Muhyiddin said his granddaughter successfully completed her Bachelor of Arts degree with first-class honours in business administration from the University of Westminster, London.
"I wish to attend my granddaughter's graduation ceremony because it is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and I want to witness and acknowledge my granddaughter's achievements.
"My granddaughter has also expressed her wish for me and my wife to attend her graduation ceremony to witness her accomplishments," said Muhyiddin in the affidavit.
In the same proceeding, Rozina also set Aug 30 for the hearing of Muhyiddin's application to postpone the hearings of abuse of power and money laundering charges faced by the Bersatu president, pending a review decision by a panel of judges in the Court of Appeal.
Muhyiddin, 77, as the then prime minister and president of Bersatu, is accused of using his position for gratification amounting to RM232.5mil related to the Jana Wibawa Project from three companies, namely Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, and Mamfor Sdn Bhd, as well as Datuk Azman Yusoff, for the party.
He is accused of committing the act at the Prime Minister's Office, Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020, and Aug 20, 2021.
Muhyiddin also faces two charges of receiving funds from illegal activities amounting to RM195mil from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, which were deposited into the CIMB Bank account belonging to Bersatu at CIMB Bank Branch Menara KL, Jalan Stesen Sentral here between Feb 25 and July 16, 2021, and Feb 8 and July 8, 2022.
He was also charged in the Shah Alam Sessions Court on March 13 last year with receiving RM5mil from illegal activities, and the case was transferred to the Sessions Court here to be tried together. - Bernama
