[UPDATED] Muhyiddin to face another charge on Monday: Azam Baki

KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will face another graft charge on Monday, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said.

Chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed this, saying the additional charge will be under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001.

“Yes, correct,” Azam told Getaran, The Vibes’ sister news portal when asked to confirm reports that the former prime minister would face additional charges.

Earlier, Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu had said outside the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex that Muhyiddin, who is the party president, would likely face another corruption charge.

Muhyiddin was slapped with a total of six counts of graft this morning – four for abuse of power and two under money-laundering laws.

Muhyiddin, 76, was charged before sessions court judge Azura Alwi this morning.

For abusing his power as prime minister and Bersatu president, he was charged with soliciting RM200 million from Bukhary Equity between February 8 and 25, 2021, at the Prime Minister’s Office. 

On the second charge, he is accused of using his position to solicit RM1 million, between March 1 and August 20, 2021, from Nepturis Sdn Bhd for Bersatu.

On the third charge, Muhyiddin was alleged to have solicited RM19.5 million from Mamfor Sdn Bhd for Bersatu between March 1, 2020 and August 20, 2021. During the same period, he is accused of soliciting RM12 million from one Azman Yusoff for the party.

The total amount allegedly involved in the charges of abuse of power is RM232.5 million, and framed under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.

The other two charges under the AMLATFPUAA allegedly involve RM195 million, which Muhyiddin is accused of receiving as illicit funds from Bukhary Equity deposited into Bersatu’s CIMB account. The two offences allegedly took place between February 25 and July 16, 2021, and February 8 and July 8, 2022.

For the charges under the MACC Act, Muhyiddin faces a maximum of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

For those under AMLATFPUAA, he faces a maximum of 15 years in jail and can be liable to a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the proceeds of an unlawful activity at the time the offence was committed or RM5,000,000, whichever is higher. 

Muhyiddin, who pleaded not guilty and was released on bail today,  had also been under investigation over the Jana Wibawa scheme introduced during his administration aimed at helping Bumiputera contractors during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is not clear if the additional charge on Monday will be related to Jana Wibawa, but Muhyiddin last night after being released from detention at the MACC headquarters, said in a statement that he was questioned on the Jana Wibawa scheme.

He has also stressed that the finance minister was in charge of approving applications under the scheme and that he had no such powers as prime minister.

Muhyiddin last night also said MACC had questioned him over a tax exemption given to the Albukhary Foundation headed by Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary. – The Vibes, March 10, 2023