KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 29): The Sessions Court here has denied former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s bid to have his passport returned to him permanently and unconditionally.
Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi dismissed the application on Wednesday, but said that Muhyiddin can apply for temporary release of his passport subject to court approval.
The Pagoh Member of Parliament wanted an unconditional release of his passport for a holiday in London and a medical check-up in Singapore.
Azura said that Muhyiddin’s reasons for wanting a permanent release of his passport needed more concrete reasoning — for amending the bail conditions — other than the fact that the four abuse of power charges against the Bersatu president had been struck out.
She said that while the four charges were struck out, there are still three more money-laundering charges against Muhyiddin, which had not been heard.
After Wednesday's decision, Muhyiddin’s lawyer Datuk K Kumaraendran applied for the temporary release of his passport, which was granted by Azura.
Azura allowed Muhyiddin to have his passport until Jan 15. Kumaraendran asked for the passport on Wednesday, so that Muhyiddin could renew it before his trips.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib said the prosecution had no objection to the temporary release of Muhyiddin's passport.
The Perikatan Nasional chairman faces three charges of money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla).
This includes two charges of receiving proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to RM195 million from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, which was deposited into Bersatu's CIMB Bank account.
The offences were allegedly committed at CIMB Bank Menara KL Branch, Jalan Stesen Sentral, here between Feb 25 and July 16, 2021, and between Feb 8 and July 8, 2022.
Muhyiddin was also charged in the Shah Alam Sessions Court on March 13 this year with receiving money from illegal activities amounting to RM5 million, and the case was transferred to the Sessions Court here for a joint trial.
The Sessions Court then set Feb 15 to hear Muhyiddin’s bid to strike out the three money-laundering charges.
The court will also hear the prosecution’s bid to stay the proceedings, pending their appeal in the Court of Appeal against the striking out of the four abuse of power charges. The appeal will be heard on Feb 28 and 29 next year.
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