Jana Wibawa case: Aug 20 verdict on Muhyiddin bid for acquittal

 

Muhyiddin Yassin will know on Aug 20 whether he can walk free from four abuse of power charges linked to the Jana Wibawa programme.

A five-person Court of Appeal bench chaired by Azizah Nawawi today set the decision date over the former prime minister’s review bid to strike out the criminal charges.

Also comprising member judges Mohd Ruzima Ghazali, Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, Azman Abdullah, and Azhahari Kamal Ramli, the bench earlier heard oral submissions from Muhyiddin’s legal team and the prosecution.

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

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.

Muhyiddin’s charges

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.

In August last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed Muhyiddin’s application to strike out the four power abuse charges, leading to his discharge amounting to an acquittal.

However, in February this year, the Court of Appeal reinstated the charges, nullifying the full acquittal.

Muhyiddin was seeking the appellate court to review its own earlier ruling, contending that the criminal charges are vague and defective in law.

The Perikatan Nasional chairperson also contended that the case against him was a form of political persecution. - Mkini