PUTRAJAYA: A five-member bench of the Court of Appeal will hear Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's final legal bid to restore his discharge and acquittal on four abuse of power charges connected to the Jana Wibawa scandal.
The former prime minister's lead counsel, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, confirmed that the appellate court had allowed their request.
The case management was done today before deputy registrar Muhammad Noor Firdaus Rosli.
"Yes, I can confirm the matter. The five (-member panel) will review our case on July 9 this year," he said briefly.
The court will also hear the prosecution's preliminary objections on the same date.
The 76-year-old Bersatu president is appealing against the decision of a Court of Appeal bench comprising Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail, Datuk Azmi Ariffin and Datuk S.M. Komathy Suppiah.
The judges, on Feb 28, allowed the prosecution to reinstate the four abuse of power charges and ordered that the case be remitted to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
A High Court judge had on Aug 15 last year acquitted and released Muhyiddin. He ruled that the charges were defective and in bad faith.
The Jana Wibawa programme was carried out during Muhyiddin's premiership.
On March 10 last year, Muhyiddin was charged with four counts of using his positions as prime minister and Bersatu president to obtain bribes amounting to RM232.5 million from three companies — Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd — as well as Datuk Azman Yusoff.
He had allegedly committed the offences at the prime minister's office in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020 and Aug 20, 2021.
On April 18, Muhyiddin, who is also Perikatan Nasional chairman, filed an application to quash the four charges.