KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin failed in his bid to have his passport returned permanently to him.
Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi dismissed the Bersatu president's application today.
However, the court allowed the temporary release of Muhyiddin's passport for his travel to London with his family members next month.
Azura in her ruling said it was premature to allow the Perikatan Nasional chairman's application at this stage, as he still needs to answer to three money laundering charges against him.
"The court is satisfied that the application to modify the bail conditions and unconditionally release the passport is hereby rejected.
"We allowed the applicant to temporarily retrieve his passport starting today.
"He needs to return his passport before Jan 15 next year," she said briefly.
The prosecution led by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib did not object to the temporary release of the document.
Counsel Datuk Seri K. Kumaraendran appeared for Muhyiddin.
Muhyiddin in his application said he needed the document for a family holiday in London and medical check-up in Singapore at the end of this year.
He said the vacation is important because it allows him to spend time with his family as this year has been very stressful for them.
The Pagoh member of parliament said he will be in London from Dec 21 until Jan 10, next year.
On Aug 15, High Court Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin acquitted and discharged the former prime minister on all four charges of abuse of power.
Jamil, in his judgment, said that all four charges were defective and in bad faith.
He said there was lack of details in the charges, and the accused was charged with offences unknown to the law.
Following the development, Muhyiddin, on Oct 4, filed an application to strike out his remaining three money laundering charges linked to the Jana Wibawa scandal.
He also wanted the Sessions Court to grant him a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) from the charges.
He argued that the money laundering charges would not stand as they were predicated to the main ones which were dropped recently.