KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is still facing three money laundering charges involving about RM200 million, has filed an application for the unconditional release of his passport.
The 76-year-old Pagoh MP’s application was preceded by a written request made on Sept 29 seeking the consent of the public prosecutor to a variation of his bail conditions, including the release of his travel documents.
“Until today, the public prosecutor has not responded to my letter,” he said in an application filed by solicitors Chetan Jethwani & Company in the sessions court on Monday.
The case will be mentioned before sessions judge Azura Alwi next Wednesday.
FMT understands that the prosecution intends to oppose the application.
Muhyiddin said the travel document is needed to enable him to go on a holiday with members of his family.
“It is the norm for me to take my family members for a one-month holiday,” he said in an affidavit sighted by FMT.
The Bersatu president said he intends to spend the vacation in 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.
He added that he also needs his passport to undergo a medical check-up in Singapore.
Muhyiddin 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.
“I am not a flight risk as I am an MP, and have family and assets in the country,” he added.
He said the sessions court had on March 10 also required him to surrender his travel documents 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.
However, Muhyiddin said 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.
In his application, Muhyiddin, who is also Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman, claimed his acquittal justifies a variation of the bail bond.
He said the abuse of power charges are also closely linked to the money laundering charges.
Earlier this month, Muhyiddin filed an application to set aside money laundering charges linked to the Jana Wibawa programme implemented by his administration.
He wants the sessions court to grant him a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA), saying that the charges are “groundless”.
The court has yet to fix a hearing date for the application. - FMT
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