KUALA LUMPUR — The prosecution in the trial of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who faces seven charges of power abuse and money laundering, told the court it will present evidence showing millions of ringgit were channelled into the account of his political ally, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said that at that material time Muhyiddin was both Bersatu president and prime minister, giving him an indirect interest in the Jana Wibawa Programme.
“The prosecution acknowledges that the millions of ringgit did not enter the accused’s personal account, but were instead channelled into the account of his ally, Bersatu,” he said while presenting the prosecution’s opening statement on the first day of the trial before High Court judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin.
Wan Shaharuddin said the prosecution will also show that the finance minister at the time acted based on meeting minutes from the accused and did not benefit from the decisions made.
“Similarly, the finance minister at the time, from UMNO, did not gain any benefit. Evidence will show that if not for the accused being Bersatu president and prime minister at the same time, the party would not have received millions of ringgit in contributions,” he said.
Wan Shaharuddin said that the prosecution will rely on documentary and record evidence, as well as direct and circumstantial testimony, to prove its case.
About 30 witnesses are expected to testify during the trial.
“In proving an offence under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, the prosecution will rely on the legal presumption under Section 23(2) of the same Act.
“The Court of Appeal has previously ruled that Bersatu qualifies as an organisation under Section 3 of the Act and that the charges under Section 23(1) are not defective,” he said.
The trial then proceeded with the prosecution calling its first witness, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission assistant superintendent Mohd Syawaludin Said.
–BERNAMA
