Gobind calls on AG to explain decision to drop part of Muhyiddin's charges mid-trial

Wednesday 16 Sep 2026

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KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 15): The Attorney General must provide a detailed explanation for seeking a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to discontinue part of the prosecution against former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, said Democratic Action Party (DAP) national chairman Gobind Singh Deo.

Gobind, who is also digital minister, said an explanation was necessary following the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision to grant Muhyiddin a full acquittal and discharge on four charges — one for abuse of power and three for money laundering — involving RM200 million linked to Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd on Tuesday.

“This is a matter of importance, given that the legal proceedings were actively ongoing,” Gobind said in a statement.

Gobind noted that when criminal charges are brought against anyone, the expectation is that the prosecution would have thoroughly evaluated the evidence and established a strong basis to proceed.

“The public is entitled to know what specific material factors or legal considerations changed to prompt the decision to halt the process at this stage,” he said.

Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was granted a full acquittal and discharge on Tuesday by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on four charges — one for abuse of power and three for money laundering linked to Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd. (Photo by Zahid Izzani/The Edge)

The prosecution had sought for a discharge not amounting to an acquittal in its application to drop the charges, but provided no reason for doing so — a fact the court cited as it subsequently granted a full acquittal, adding no witnesses or evidence related to the charges had been presented.

In his statement, Gobind stressed that transparency was essential, given the significant public interest surrounding the case, warning that public confidence in the AG and the integrity of the criminal justice system could be severely eroded if high-profile prosecutions are aborted midway without clear justification.

“I therefore call upon the AG to speak up and publicly outline the exact grounds that led to the said application he made in court today,” Gobind said.

Muhyiddin, 79, who is also the Member of Parliament for Pagoh and president of Bersatu, originally faced seven charges in his ongoing graft trial: four counts of abuse of power involving RM225.3 million in alleged gratification, and three counts of money laundering involving RM200 million.

The four charges dropped on Tuesday were the three counts of money laundering and one count of abuse of power involving Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd.

The four original abuse-of-power charges alleged that Muhyiddin had used his office as prime minister and Bersatu president to solicit bribes from Bukhary Equity, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Mamfor Sdn Bhd and Datuk Azman Yusoff. All four charges were initially struck out by the High Court in August 2023 but reinstated by the Court of Appeal in February 2024.

With the four Bukhary Equity-related charges now dropped, the High Court trial will proceed on the remaining three abuse-of-power charges involving RM25.3 million in alleged gratification tied to the Jana Wibawa programme.

Edited ByTan Choe Choe

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