The corruption trial of Muhyiddin Yassin began today at the High Court here, with the prosecution stating that millions of ringgit in donations flowed to Bersatu due to his dual roles as party president and prime minister.
In the opening statement, deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin told the court that the funds linked to the Jana Wibawa programme were not paid directly to Muhyiddin personally.
Prosecution Highlights Key Allegation
“We acknowledge that the millions of ringgit did not go into the accused’s own pocket but were deposited into the account of his associate, namely Bersatu,” Wan Shaharuddin said.
He added that evidence would show the party would not have received these donations without Muhyiddin’s position as both Bersatu president and prime minister at the time.
The lead prosecutor also clarified that then finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz acted only on a minute issued by Muhyiddin and did not personally benefit from the decisions.
“Neither did the finance minister’s associate at the time, Umno, obtain any benefit,” he noted.
Charges and Trial Details
Muhyiddin, 78, the Pagoh MP, faces seven charges connected to the Jana Wibawa programme, a government initiative launched during the Covid-19 pandemic to support Bumiputera contractors.
He is charged with four counts of abusing his position to solicit RM225.3 million in bribes for Bersatu from three companies — Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Mamfor Sdn Bhd — and one individual, Azman Yusoff.
These alleged offences took place at the Prime Minister’s Office between March 1, 2020, and August 20, 2021.
He also faces three counts of money laundering involving RM200 million, allegedly received from Bukhary Equity and deposited into Bersatu accounts at AmBank and CIMB Bank.
The money laundering offences are said to have occurred at AmBank in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, and CIMB Bank Jalan Stesen Sentral, between February 25, 2021, and July 8, 2022.
This morning, Muhyiddin pleaded not guilty to an amended fourth charge, where the amount allegedly received from Azman Yusoff was reduced from RM12 million to RM4.8 million.
The prosecution plans to rely on documentary, direct, and circumstantial evidence, calling around 30 witnesses.
Muhyiddin is represented by a team of lawyers including K Kumaraendran, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Rosli Dahlan, Amer Hamzah Arshad, Chetan Jethwani, Kee Wei Loon, Low Wei Loke, Siti Summaiyah Ahmad Jaafar, Lee Yei Wei, and Tang Jia Yearn.
The trial before Justice Noor Ruwena Nurdin continues.
