SHAH ALAM: Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been slapped with one count of money laundering amounting to RM5 million at the Sessions Court, here, this morning.
This makes Muhyiddin's seventh criminal charge as he was previously charged with six counts of money laundering and corruption at Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Friday (March 10), where he pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.
The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president, whose actual registered name is Mahiaddin Md Yasin, 76, has become the second former prime minister to be charged in court for corruption in the country's history.
Muhyiddin, who is the co-founder of Bersatu, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to the charge after it was read out to him before Sessions Court judge Rozilah Salleh.
Muhyiddin was charged with one count of receiving RM5 million funds, from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, that are proceeds from unlawful activities on Jan 7 last year.
The funds were credited into the party's Ambank bank account. He was accused of committing the offence at Ambank Amcorp Mall branch, Jalan Persiaran Barat, Petaling Jaya, here.
The charge is framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
The offence under AMLATFPUAA carries a jail term not exceeding 15 years' and a fine of at least five times the sum obtained from money laundering or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
The prosecution team today was led by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib, Mohd Fadhly Mohd Zambry, Zander Lim Wai Keong, Kalai Vani Annadorai and Maziah Mohaide, while Muhyiddin was represented by senior lawyer Datuk K Kumaraendran, Chetan Jethwani, and seven others.
Ahmad Akram suggested for the bail amount to be tied to his other charges that were presided over in KL court, as the prosecution team would be submitting applications to move the case to KL court and be tried together.
The court agreed to the suggestion and fixed May 26 for mention.
This means Muhyiddin's bail for all seven charges remained at RM2 million bail with two local surety and he has to also have his passport surrendered to the court.
Muhyiddin was elected as the Prime Minister after the collapse of Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in 2020.
When the country was facing the Covid-19 pandemic, the government announced several initiatives as assistance to the people, including the Jana Wibawa programme for Bumiputera contractors.
Others who have previously been charged for corruption related to the Jana Wibawa programme were former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan and businessman cum Bersatu Segambut division deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad.