KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 3): The Sessions Court on Thursday dismissed former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s application to get his international passport returned to him for him to have a vacation and to celebrate his 52nd wedding anniversary with his family in Uzbekistan and Doha, Qatar. He was scheduled to leave the country on Friday, Oct 4, and return on Oct 12.
Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi allowed the prosecution’s objection, which cited that the reasons for the Pagoh Member of Parliament (MP) to get his passport was frivolous. Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Noralis Mat said the politician could have his vacation in the country and celebrate his wedding anniversary locally.
Noralis, who appeared with DPP Zander Lim Wai Kong, said the seriousness of the offence which Muhyiddin faces also warranted the court to consider not granting his application for a return of his passport, as the High Court had previously denied Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s passport for him to perform his umrah trip.
Azura in her decision after a 40-minute recess said that while the court recognised Muhyiddin’s right to be considered innocent until proven guilty, and that he is to continue his responsibilities as normal, the court had wide discretion on a case-by-case basis.
“This application is not approved at this stage, as the accused can continue with his duties and responsibilities as usual, but not have a vacation or celebrate his anniversary overseas for the time being,” Azura said.
Prior to this, the Sessions Court had allowed a release of Muhyiddin’s passport four times, beginning on Nov 29, 2023, after he was charged with four counts of abuse of power and money laundering charges, in which the abuse of power charges were reinstated this year.
Muhyiddin had also cited his involvement in two past by-elections in Mahkota and Nenggiri, and also his recent sedition charge as reasons for him wanting to take a break, as revealed by his lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, who appeared with Chethan Jethwani.
Hisyam pointed out that Muhyiddin was not a flight risk, as he had posted bail of RM2 million and previously, the court had allowed a release of his passport.
“My client has always been present in court and has always cooperated with the authorities and is not a flight risk, as all [of] his assets are in Malaysia,” the senior counsel added.
Hisyam added that as an MP, Muhyiddin is scheduled to appear in the Parliament session which starts later this month and runs until December.
Muhyiddin, 77, as president of Bersatu and the then prime minister, was charged with using his position to obtain RM232.5 million in bribes from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Mamfor Sdn Bhd, and a person by the name of Datuk Azman Yusoff for his political party.
He was charged with committing the offence at the Prime Minister’s Office at Bangunan Perdana Putra, Federal Government Administration Centre in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020, and Aug 20, 2021.
The Bersatu president and Perikatan Nasional chairman also faces two charges of receiving money from illegal activities, amounting to RM195 million from Bukhary Equity, which was deposited into Bersatu’s CIMB Bank account.
The offence was committed at the CIMB Bank Menara KL branch at Jalan Stesen Sentral, between Feb 25 and July 16, 2021, and between Feb 8 and July 8, 2022.
Muhyiddin was also charged in the Sessions Court in Shah Alam on March 13 last year, with receiving money from illegal activities amounting to RM5 million, and the case was transferred to the Sessions Court here to be tried together.
He also faces a sedition charge over a speech he gave during the Nenggiri state by-election campaign.
Muhyiddin allegedly uttered the seditious sentences at a ceramah (speech) at Dewan Semai Bakti at Felda Perasu at Jalan Utama Felda Perasu, between 10.30pm and 11.50pm on Aug 14, where he allegedly questioned the then 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s discretion in not summoning him when he claimed to have the support of 115 MPs after the 15th general election, to form the government.
Source: TheEdge - 4 Oct 2024
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