The prosecution is seeking a joint trial of former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s four abuse of power charges and three money laundering counts involving over RM232 million.
Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin told the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur this morning that they filed the application yesterday.
Muhyiddin’s counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, told Judge Azura Alwi that the defence need time to reply to the joint trial application.
Azura then directed the defence to file their affidavit in response to the joint trial application by June 30, and for the prosecution to file any reply to the response within two weeks after June 30.
She also set Aug 4 for the next mention of the case, in light of Muhyiddin’s two pending applications before the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.
One application was to transfer the case from the Sessions Court to the High Court, and the other was to strike out the four abuse of power charges.
When met by the media after proceedings, Hisyam said they would object to the prosecution’s joint trial bid, adding that the defence team was only served copies of the application earlier this morning.
The defence counsel reiterated their stance behind the striking out bid - that the abuse of power charges allegedly does not disclose any offence known in law, and that the charges do not state the particulars of the offence.
The striking-out application targets the predicate (main) charges, namely the four power abuse charges. The three money laundering charges hinge on the four predicate charges.
The four abuse of power charges, framed under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009, accused Muhyiddin 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 Sdn Bhd, 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 76-year-old is accused of receiving over RM120 million of proceeds from illegal activity from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd between Feb 25, 2021, and July 8, 2022.
The money laundering was allegedly committed by receiving money banked into Bersatu’s account.
The Pagoh MP faces 20 years in jail and a fine five times the amount of gratification involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher for the abuse of power charges.
For the money laundering case, he may be sentenced to imprisonment of 15 years and fined five times the amount involved or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
Under the law, money laundering is the process of converting cash, funds, or property obtained from criminal activities in order to give it a legitimate appearance.
It is the act of cleaning “dirty” money in order to disguise its criminal origin.
Muhyiddin was first charged on March 10. He claimed trial for all four abuse of power and three money laundering charges. - Mkini
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