Court allows passport release for Muhyiddin to visit ill relative

 

The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court has allowed the temporary release of Muhyiddin Yassin's passport so the former prime minister can visit a family member with cancer in Australia.

Judge Azura Alwi granted the application raised by defence counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik when deputy public prosecutor Nor Asma Ahmad did not object to the temporary passport-release bid.

"The reason as stated in the affidavit is to visit a close member of the family in Australia who is in remission for bowel cancer," the lawyer informed the criminal court.

The Sessions Court allowed the interim passport release from today until May 28.

Previously, Muhyiddin's passport was surrendered to the criminal court as part of bail conditions linked to his pending Jana Wibawa case.

Azura also set June 13 to hear Muhyiddin's application to stay proceedings at the lower court, pending disposal of the accused's review application to quash the four power abuse charges, which is set for hearing before the Court of Appeal on July 9.

7 charges

In March last year, before the Sessions Court, Muhyiddin claimed trial to four counts of abuse of power and three money laundering charges involving RM232.5 million linked to Jana Wibawa.

Under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009, he is accused of using his position as then-prime minister and Bersatu president for an inducement of RM232.5 million from three companies and an individual, between March 1, 2020, and Aug 20, 2021.

The three companies are Bukhary Equity, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, and Mamfor Sdn Bhd, while the individual in question is Azman Yusoff.

The three money laundering charges were laid out under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 - read with Section 87(1) of the same act.

The 77-year-old was accused of abusing his powers for Bersatu to receive RM125 million of proceeds from illegal activity from Bukhary Equity - between Feb 25, 2021, and July 8, 2022.

The charges did not allege that payment was made to Muhyiddin but the money was allegedly laundered by receiving money banked into Bersatu’s account. - Mkini