FORMER prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin arrived at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex on Monday for the opening day of his trial on charges of abuse of power and money laundering linked to the Jana Wibawa project.
The president of Bersatu arrived at about 8.40 am in a Toyota Alphard, accompanied by his wife, Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman.
Also present to show support were the party’s deputy president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, and secretary-general, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
Court proceedings were scheduled to begin at 9 am, with the prosecution led by deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, who is expected to deliver the opening statement before the court hears testimony from the first prosecution witness.
Muhyiddin is represented by a defence team led by lawyers Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Amer Hamzah Arshad and K Kumaraendran.
Muhyiddin, 79, who was serving as prime minister and Bersatu president at the time of the alleged offences, faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM232.5 million in connection with the Jana Wibawa project.
The alleged bribes were said to have been solicited from three companies — Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd — as well as businessman Datuk Azman Yusoff, for the benefit of the political party.
The offences were allegedly committed at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Perdana Putra building in Putrajaya between 1 March 2020 and 20 August 2021.
The Pagoh member of parliament is charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same act.
If convicted, the offence carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Muhyiddin also faces three charges of receiving RM200 million in proceeds from unlawful activities, allegedly transferred from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd into Bersatu’s accounts at AmBank and CIMB Bank branches in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur between February 2021 and July 2022.
These charges are framed under Section 4(1)(b), read together with Section 87(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
The offence carries a maximum prison term of 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the illicit proceeds or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction. - March 9, 2026
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