Muhyiddin Yassin must not be allowed to travel abroad as he still faces multiple corruption charges, the Sessions Court heard. Deputy Public Prosecutor Lim Wai Keong said the former prime minister still has three money laundering charges that he needs to answer, and the seizure of his passport will ensure his presence during proceedings. “I deny that there is a material change of circumstances and injustice to the applicant (Muhyiddin) if the bail conditions are maintained.“Muhyiddin can apply from time to time for the release of his passport if he is required for travel purposes abroad.
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“Thus, there is no issue for the permanent release of the passport to be considered.“At this stage, I state that this application is unfounded,” he said. The prosecutor said this in his reply to Muhyiddin’s application to release his passport permanently.
The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president said he needed the document for a family holiday in London and medical check-up in Singapore at the end of this year.
“It is a tradition where I will take my family on a month-long vacation every year. This year is no exception.
“This vacation is important because it allows me to spend time with my family as this year has been very stressful for both me and my family.
“I was informed by my travel agent that it is difficult to obtain flight tickets and to arrange a vacation trip for a large group, especially around the Christmas holiday season.
“I hope that the court will grant my request so that I can go on vacation and spend time with my family this year,” he said in his affidavit in support
The Pagoh member of parliament said he will be in London from Dec 21 until Jan 10, next year.
“I also intend to go to Singapore for a health check-up.
“I genuinely believe that Mount Elizabeth Hospital has advanced technology to allow me to undergo a heart examination through stress test on a treadmill,” he said, adding that the RM2 million bail is sufficient to ensure his presence in court.
On Oct 4, Muhyiddin 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.
The defence team, earlier, contended that the money laundering charges would not stand as they were predicated to the main ones which were dropped recently.
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.
Muhyiddin was charged with two counts of receiving RM195 million in funds that were proceeds from unlawful activities between Feb 25 and July 16, 2021, and Feb 8 till July 8 last year.
He was also charged with one count of receiving RM5 million in funds from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, that were proceeds from unlawful activities on Jan 7 last year.
The charge is framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA).
The offence under AMLATFPUAA carries a jail term not exceeding 15 years and a fine of at least five times the sum obtained from money laundering or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.