High Court Acquits Muhyiddin Yassin of RM200 Million Graft and Money Laundering Charges

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — The High Court today acquitted and discharged former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin of one charge of using his position to obtain a RM200 million bribe and three money laundering charges involving the same amount.

Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin delivered the verdict after Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib applied to discontinue proceedings against Muhyiddin, 79, under Section 254(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Despite the acquittal, the Pagoh Member of Parliament still faces three separate counts of abuse of position involving RM25.3 million in alleged bribes.

Muhyiddin was cleared of the single count of using his position as Prime Minister and Bersatu President to solicit a RM200 million bribe from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd linked to the Jana Wibawa project, allegedly committed at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020, and Aug 20, 2021. The charge had been framed under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.

He was also discharged of three counts of receiving RM200 million in proceeds from unlawful activities from Bukhary Equity, which were deposited into Bersatu’s AmBank and CIMB Bank accounts between February 2021 and July 2022. Those charges fell under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

While prosecution sought a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA), Judge Noor Ruwena exercised judicial discretion to grant a full acquittal.

“In this case, the prosecution gave no reason for the application other than stating that it does not intend to proceed with the charges. However, the matter was left to the court’s discretion,” Judge Noor Ruwena ruled. “Accordingly, the court discharges and acquits the accused of the four charges.”

Ahmad Akram clarified that the prosecution’s application applied strictly to the four specific charges and did not affect the remaining three abuse of position charges Muhyiddin continues to face.

–NMT