FORMER prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has claimed trial to four counts of abuse of power in relation to the Jana Wibawa programme and two counts of money laundering amounting to RM195 mil.
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairperson, clad in a black suit, was charged during proceedings before Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi this morning.
The four abuse of power charges, laid out under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009, accused the 75-year-old Muhyiddin of using his position as then prime minister and Bersatu president to obtain RM232.5 mil from three companies and an individual, between March 1, 2020, and Aug 20, 2021.
Meanwhile, the two money laundering charges, framed 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, accused the Pagoh MP of receiving RM120 mil of proceeds from illegal activity from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd between Feb 25, 2021, and July 8, 2022.
Muhyiddin pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out to him at the sessions court here before judge Azura Alwi.
If found guilty, Muhyiddin will face 20 years in jail and a fine five times the amount of gratification involved or RM10,000 whichever is higher for the abuse of power charges.
For the money laundering case, he may be sentenced to imprisonment of 15 years and fined five times the amount involved or RM5 mil, whichever is higher.
Azura allowed Muhyiddin bail of RM2 mil in two sureties and ordered his passport to be impounded.
The case will be mentioned on May 26.
The Jana Wibawa programme was introduced by the government during Muhyiddin’s tenure as the prime minister. The programme acted as a COVID-19 stimulus initiative to help Bumiputera contractors.
It sparked controversy on Feb 1 this year after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Finance Ministry (which he also helms) discovered a breach of procedure in the handling of RM600 bil public funds during Muhyiddin’s tenure as prime minister.
In a statement yesterday (March 9) the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed that it has detained the former prime minister at 1pm at the MACC Putrajaya headquarters after he appeared to be interviewed to complete the final investigation process regarding the Jana Wibawa project and related issues.
Muhyiddin maintained that the charges laid against him by MACC were politically motivated, and were trumped up to besmirch his reputation as well as that of Bersatu and the PN coalition. He added that he will answer these charges in court. – March 10, 2023
Main pic credit: Bernama
