Muhyiddin charged with receiving RM5 million from unlawful activities

Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin was charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court today with receiving RM5 million in proceeds from unlawful activities.

The Bersatu president pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out to him before judge Rozilah Salleh.

"I understand the charge. I plead not guilty," he said.

Muhyiddin, as Bersatu president, was alleged to have received proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to RM5 million from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, said to be deposited into the party's AmBank account at the bank’s Amcorp Mall branch, Petaling Jaya on Jan 7, 2022.

The Pagoh MP was charged under Section 4(1)(b) read together with Section 87(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, the penalty of which is provided for under Section 4(1) of the same act.

The section provides for a maximum jail term of 15 years and a fine of up to five times the sum or value of the proceeds from the unlawful activities or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission asked the court to adopt the RM2 million bail with two sureties and additional condition set by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court last week.

"I also request that this case be transferred to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court since it is related to another case there, the mention date of which has been set for May 26," he said.

Muhyiddin’s lawyer K Kumaraendran did not object to the application.

Rozilah agreed to use the bail amount and additional condition set by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, namely that Muhyiddin surrender his passport to the court, and allowed the case to be transferred.

On March 10, Muhyiddin pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to four charges of corruption amounting to RM232.5 million and two counts of money laundering involving RM195 million.

The prosecution was also conducted by deputy public prosecutors Mohd Fadhly Mohd Zamry, Zander Lim Wai Keong, Kalai Vani Annadorai and Maziah Mohaide.

Muhyiddin meanwhile was also represented by lawyers Chetan Jethwani, Dev Kumaraendran, Amiratu Al Amirat Saleh Mohamed Garbaa, Mohamad Isa Mohamad Basir, Teh See Khoon, Varsha Chelvi and Raja Syuhada Raja Khairuddin.