FORMER prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has been charged with four counts of power abuse at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court involving a total of RM232.5 million in gratification.

He also faces two additional charges of money laundering, of which he is alleged to have received RM195 million in funds that are proceeds from illegal activities. 

Muhyiddin, however, pleaded not guilty to the six charges and claimed trial.

The 75-year-old Pagoh MP, who was clad in a dark blue suit, appeared calm and composed when the charges were read out to him. 

The prosecution team was led by solicitor-general Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, who had a team of nine deputy public prosecutors assisting him.

Muhyiddin was represented by senior lawyer K. Kumaraendran, Rosli Dahlan and six other lawyers.

Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi allowed the accused bail of RM2 million with two local sureties, and to have the Bersatu chief’s passport surrendered to the court.

The judge also fixed May 26 for case mention.

Muhyiddin is charged with abuse of power under section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.

He is also charged under section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (Amla) 2001.

For the first charge, the former prime minister is alleged to have used his position to obtain a RM200,000 bribe from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd for his party.

In the second charge, he is alleged to have received RM1 million for Bersatu from Nepturis Sdn Bhd.

On the third charge, he allegedly received RM19.5 million from Mamfor Sdn Bhd.

For the fourth charge, he allegedly accepted RM12 million from businessman Azman Yusoff.

For the first money laundering charge, Muhyiddin is alleged to have received RM120 million from Bukhary Equity, which was deposited into Bersatu’s CIMB account.

On the second charge, he is alleged to have accepted RM75 million, also from Bukhary Equity, which was deposited into the same Bersatu account.

Under section 23 of the MACC Act 2009, the offence of using one’s office or position for gratification carries a penalty of up to 20 years’ jail as well as a fine five times the value of the gratification involved, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Section 4(1)(b) of the Amla refers to the offence of “acquiring, receiving, possessing, disguising, transferring, converting, exchanging, carrying, disposing or using the proceeds of an unlawful activity”. It carries a penalty of up to 15 years in jail and a fine five times the value of the proceeds at the time the offence was committed, or RM5 million, whichever is greater.

Muhyiddin is also expected to face fresh charges in Shah Alam courts on Monday. – March 10, 2023.