The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court will continue to hold on to the passport of former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who has three pending money laundering charges linked to the Jana Wibawa programme.
The court this morning dismissed the Pagoh MP's bid for the return of his passport for the purpose of a family holiday in London and a medical check-up in Singapore at the end of this year.
Judge Azura Alwi ruled though that the Perikatan Nasional chairperson still has the right to file for temporary return of his passport for those purposes, subject to court approval.
Following a brief oral submission by Muhyiddin's counsel K Kumaraendran and deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib, Azura allowed a temporary release of the accused's passport from today until Jan 15 next year.
During open-court proceedings today, Azura said that Muhyiddin needed to present more concrete reasons for amending his RM2 million bail conditions, than just citing a Kuala Lumpur High Court ruling that quashed the four abuse of power charges against him (leaving only the three money laundering charges).
Azura said this is especially so when the reasons cited by Muhyiddin for permanent release of his passport are for a family holiday and medical travel, which the accused can just apply for a temporary return of the travel document.
The judge also pointed out that Muhyiddin still had three pending money laundering charges, and that the accused's bid to nullify the three money laundering charges is yet to be heard by her.
Later, Azura allowed Kumaraendran's bid for a temporary release of Muhyiddin's passport as Akram raised no objections in the matter.
Kumaraendran informed the court that Muhyiddin would seek to renew his passport today, with a planned flight from Malaysia to Dubai on Dec 15, Dubai to London on Dec 21, London to Dubai on Jan 10 next year and then Dubai to Malaysia on Jan 11 - with the passport being returned to court on Jan 15.
New dates
The Sessions Court also set Feb 15 next year to hear Muhyiddin's bid to strike out the three money laundering charges.
The same date is set for hearing of the prosecution's bid to stay the money laundering proceedings, pending disposal of their appeal before the Court of Appeal to reinstate the four abuse of power charges against Muhyiddin.
The Court of Appeal previously fixed Feb 28 and 29 next year to hear the prosecution's appeal.
In March, before the Sessions Court, Muhyiddin claimed trial for four counts of abuse of power and three money laundering charges involving RM232.5 million linked to the Jana Wibawa programme.
The Pagoh MP then filed a bid to nullify the four power abuse charges, leading to the Kuala Lumpur High Court deciding on a discharge amounting to an acquittal (DAA) over said charges on Aug 15.
Later on Oct 4, he filed for the Sessions Court to grant him discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) from the remaining three money laundering charges. - Mkini
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