Court allows Muhyiddin to visit sick relative in Australia
Muhyiddin Yassin is facing charges of money laundering and abuse of power as prime minister in connection with the Jana Wibawa programme. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is facing four abuse of power charges and three of money laundering, has been allowed to leave the country to visit a cancer-stricken relative in Australia.
This comes after the sessions court approved the temporary release of his passport for travel to Perth between May 12 and 25.
This is Muhyiddin’s third successful application for permission to travel abroad since he was charged in March last year.
Judge Azura Alwi allowed the application, made last week, after deputy public prosecutor Nor Asma Ahmad raised no objection to it.
She also ordered that Muhyiddin return the travel document on or before May 28.
“An affidavit filed states that Muhyiddin is to visit a close family member who is in remission for bowel cancer,” lead defence counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik told the court.
Meanwhile, Azura fixed June 13 to hear Muhyiddin’s application for a stay of all proceedings in the sessions court pending the disposal of his application for the Court of Appeal to review its decision to reinstate the four abuse of power charges he is facing.
An application by the prosecution to strike out Muhyiddin’s review bid on grounds that it is frivolous and an abuse of the court process will also be heard when a five-member Court of Appeal bench sits on July 9.
Muhyiddin, the Bersatu president, was charged in March last year with abusing his power as prime minister between Feb 8 and Aug 20, 2021 in connection with the Jana Wibawa programme by seeking to obtain RM232.5 million for his party.
On Aug 15, Justice Jamil Hussin allowed Muhyiddin’s application to strike out the charges and used his inherent powers to acquit the former prime minister.
On Feb 28, a three-member Court of Appeal bench allowed the prosecution’s appeal and ruled that the High Court had erred in law in holding that the charges were defective.
Muhyiddin also faces three counts of money laundering involving RM200 million which are also before the sessions court.
Lawyers K Kumaraendran, Chetan Jethwani and Low Wei Loke also appeared for Muhyiddin while deputy public prosecutor Zander Lim assisted Nor Asma.