FORMER Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has filed a fresh application to transfer his abuse of power and money laundering case from the Sessions Court to the High Court, citing complex legal and constitutional questions.
His counsel, Tang Jia Wearn, informed Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi that the hearing on the transfer application has been scheduled for 16 June before High Court judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin.
The Sessions Court has fixed 11 July for case management to track the progress of the application. Muhyiddin has been exempted from attending the proceeding.
Deputy public prosecutor Noralis Mat confirmed that the prosecution had handed over the list of witnesses and related documents for the money laundering charges to the defence, a submission verified by Tang during the hearing.
The Bersatu president, 77, stated in his April 4 application that the charges involve "complex legal issues and questions of unusual difficulty", particularly concerning the constitutionality of several provisions under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
He fargued that the case had garnered significant public and media attention, both domestically and internationally, and that no prejudice would be caused to the prosecution if the case were transferred.
This marks Muhyiddin’s second attempt to move the case to a higher court. He had previously filed a similar application on 27 April 2023 but withdrew it on 10 July that same year.
Muhyiddin faces seven charges in total: four counts of abuse of power involving RM232.5 million in bribes linked to the Jana Wibawa programme, and three counts of receiving RM200 million in funds alleged to be proceeds of unlawful activity. The charges relate to transactions made while he was Prime Minister and president of Bersatu.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between March 2020 and August 2021 at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya, and at several bank branches in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur from early 2021 to mid-2022. - May 14, 2025
