KUALA LUMPUR – The sessions court, here, this morning, has denied former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin from permanently retrieving his passport from court.
Sessions court judge Azura Alwi dismissed the application today, after examining and considering submissions from both parties.
She dismissed the application on grounds that Muhyiddin is still facing money laundering charges under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
“After considering both parties’ oral and written submission, the court was satisfied and dismissed the application to vary bail order and release the applicant’s (Muhyiddin) international passport.
“The court opined that the applicant still needed to present a solid reason (other than requiring the passport for a vacation) on why the bail condition should be varied and the passport should be returned.
“Seeing that the applicant is still facing charges under money laundering, the court finds that it is premature and there is no need at this stage to vary the bail order.
“(However) the court also is of the opinion that the applicant can still apply to temporarily retrieve his international passport and he won’t be prejudiced,” she said.
Muhyiddin had filed an application to permanently retrieve his international passport on October 16, citing that it would be used for his family trip to the United Kingdom and medical check-ups in Singapore.
In his application, Muhyiddin said that his overseas trip is scheduled to take place between December 15 to January 11.
During the same proceedings, today, Muhyiddin’s lawyer Datuk K. Kumaraendran then applied for a temporary release of the accused’s passport for his upcoming trip to Dubai and London.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib did not object to this application. The judge then allowed the application, and ordered Muhyiddin to retrieve his passport temporarily starting today.
He is also ordered to return his passport on January 15.
The court also fixed February 15 to hear several of Muhyiddin’s applications, including one to strike out his money-laundering charges.
Muhyiddin was the second former prime minister who shook the nation when he was hit with three corruption charges and four abuse of power charges in March this year.
Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin, however, discharged and acquitted Muhyiddin from his abuse of power charges on August 15, on account that the charges were defective.
However, Muhyiddin is still facing three charges related to money laundering amounting to RM200 million, connected to the Jana Wibawa project. He had filed an application to strike out the charges in October this year. – November 29, 2023
