KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution is opposing former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s application for the conditional release of his passport despite his recent acquittal from four counts of abuse of power.
Deputy public prosecutor Nor Asma Ahmad informed sessions court judge Azura Alwi of the prosecution’s position when the matter came up for mention today.
Nor Asma said the prosecution received the cause papers from Muhyiddin’s lawyers last week and requested that she be allowed two weeks to file an affidavit in reply.
Azura ordered that the affidavit be filed by Nov 17 and fixed the application to be heard on Nov 23.
She also ordered the parties to file written submissions by Nov 21.
Lawyers K Kumaraendran, Amer Hamzah Arshad and Chetan Jethwani represented Muhyidin, while DPPs Noralis Mat and Poh Yih Tinn appeared for the prosecution.
In his application, Muhyiddin, the Bersatu president and Pagoh MP, asked for a variation of his bail conditions, including the release of his travel documents, to enable him to go on a holiday with members of his family.
He said he intends to go on vacation to the UK, adding that this has been a stressful year for himself and his family.
He said he has already booked flight tickets as the UK-bound sector has heavy demand.
Muhyiddin also said he needs his passport to undergo a medical check-up in Singapore.
He said he was advised by his lawyers that the RM2 million bail he had posted on March 10 was only aimed at securing his attendance in court.
He said he is not a flight risk and has a family and assets in the country.
The session court had previously ordered the surrender of the travel document pending the disposal of his trial on charges of allegedly abusing his power to obtain RM232.5 million for Bersatu between Feb 8 and Aug 20, 2021, and for money laundering.
The Perikatan Nasional chairman is still facing three money laundering charges amounting to RM200 million linked to the Jana Wibawa programme implemented by his administration.
He has filed an application in the sessions court to set them aside and to grant him a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA), saying that the charges are “groundless”.
Muhyiddin said this because there has been a material change in circumstances after the Kuala Lumpur High Court acquitted and discharged him of the predicate offences of abuse of power.
On Aug 15, Justice Jamil Hussin said the charges did not disclose any offence known to law and were not sufficiently clear to enable Muhyiddin to prepare his defence.
The prosecution has filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal. - FMT
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