The High Court has postponed the trial of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is facing seven charges involving abuse of power and money laundering, to July 13 following the death of his brother-in-law.
Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin granted the postponement after defence lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad informed the court that Muhyiddin’s brother-in-law had passed away this morning.
“The defence requests the court’s kind consideration to allow our client (Muhyiddin) to pay his respects to the deceased and perform the funeral prayers in Johor.
“Therefore, the defence requests that today’s trial proceedings be vacated and resumed next week on July 13,” he said.
Noor Ruwena also conveyed her condolences to Muhyiddin and his family following the loss.
The proceedings were initially scheduled for the defence to continue cross-examining the 13th prosecution witness, Nepturis Sdn Bhd Director and Senior Procurement Executive Aliza Abd Malek, 47.
Muhyiddin, 79, who was prime minister and Bersatu president during the period in question, faces four charges of using his position to obtain RM225.3 million in bribes for the party from three companies, namely Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd, as well as Datuk Azman Yusoff in connection with the Jana Wibawa project.
He is alleged to have committed the offences at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020 and Aug 20, 2021 under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.
The Pagoh MP also faces three money laundering charges involving RM200 million allegedly received from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd and deposited into Bersatu’s Ambank and CIMB Bank accounts in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur between February 2021 and July 2022.
The case will resume on July 13.
