FORMER prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has applied for his money laundering and abuse of power cases to be transferred to the High Court. 

His lawyer Rosli Dahlan said the application was filed on April 27 on the grounds that the cases involved complex legal issues involving the Federal Constitution. 

“Therefore, the cases need to be transferred and tried in the High Court,” he told reporters after case management today, which was held before Senior Assistant Registrar Nur Azizah Jaafar, who then set May 31 for further case management. 

In his supporting affidavit, Muhyiddin, 76, said the Sessions Court did not have jurisdiction to determine or decide matters involving the Federal Constitution and only the higher courts, namely the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court, had the expertise to decide such matters. 

“It is more appropriate for the proceedings to be heard and tried before a High Court judge who has jurisdiction, extensive experience, and a deep understanding of the law to determine and decide constitutional issues,” said Muhyiddin. 

Regarding the Bersatu president’s application to quash the four charges of misusing his position to receive RM232.5 million in bribes for the party, Rosli said Deputy Registrar Nurshafini Mustafha had set June 12 for further case management. 

On April 18, Muhyiddin, who is Perikatan Nasional chairman, filed a notice of motion seeking that he be released and acquitted of all four charges made against him on March 10 and the proceedings of the Sessions Court trial be postponed. 

In a supporting affidavit filed with the notice of motion, he claimed that all the charges were flawed and legally invalid. 

Muhyiddin, as then-prime minister and Bersatu president, was charged with using his position to obtain bribes amounting to RM232.5 million from businessman Azman Yusoff and three companies – Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd – for the party. 

The offences were allegedly committed at the Prime Minister’s Office, Main Block, Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administration Centre in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020, and August 20, 2021. 

The charges were framed under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which provides imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever was higher, if found guilty. 

Muhyiddin was also charged with two counts of receiving money from unlawful activities amounting to RM195 million from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd that was deposited into Bersatu’s CIMB Bank account. 

The offence was allegedly committed at CIMB Bank Menara KL Branch, Jalan Stesen Sentral between February 25, 2021 and July 16, 2021 and February 8 and July 8, 2022. 

The charges were framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, read together with Section 87(1) of the same law, which provides imprisonment for up to 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the proceeds from the unlawful activity or RM5 million, whichever was higher, if convicted. 

The Pagoh member of parliament was also charged in the Shah Alam Sessions Court on March 13 with one count of receiving RM5 million in proceeds from unlawful activities and the case had been transferred to the Sessions Court to be tried together with the other cases. – Bernama, May 8, 2023.