KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 – Perikatan Nasional (PN) Chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here on Friday to six charges of misuse of power to obtain bribes amounting to RM232.5 million and money laundering amounting to RM195 million. between 2020 and 2022. Muhyiddin, 76, who appeared in court wearing a black coat without a tie, made the plea after all the charges were read before Judges Azura Alwi and Suzana Hussain.
“I do not plead guilty, please be tried,” said the President of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu). As a result of this case, Muhyiddin became the second former Prime Minister after Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, to be accused of charges under the provisions of the same section in the court. According to the first to fourth charges, this Pagoh Member of Parliament is charged as an official of a public body, namely the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the President of Bersatu.
To have used his position to bribe money amounting to RM232.5 million from an individual namely Azman Yusoff, 51 and three companies, Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd, for the party’s allies. The offense was allegedly committed at the Prime Minister’s Office, Bangunan Perdana Putra, Federal Government Administration Center, here between March 1, 2020 and August 20, 2021. All charges are made in accordance with Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 which can be punished under Section 24(1) of the same act.
The section provides for a prison sentence of not more than 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe that is the subject of the offense if it is assessable or in the form of money, or RM10,000 whichever is higher, if convicted. For the other two charges, Muhyiddin, as the party’s President, is alleged to have received proceeds from illegal activities, namely money amounting to RM195 million from Bukhary Equity, which was deposited into Bersatu’s CIMB Bank account.
The offense was allegedly committed at CIMB Bank Menara Kuala Lumpur Branch, here between 25 February 2021 and 8 July 2022. Both charges are made in accordance with Section 4(1)(b) read together with Section 87 (1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorist Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA) which is punishable under Section 4(1) of the act same
This section carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years and can also be fined not less than five times the amount or value of the proceeds of the illegal activity or the equipment of the offense at the time the offense was committed or RM5 million, whichever is higher, if convicted.
