Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has been charged with four counts of abuse of power by the Sessions court in KL today.
He was accused of misusing his authority in the Jana Wibawa programme in order to secure RM232.5 million for Bersatu, the party in which he is its president.
He was also charged with two counts of money laundering worth RM195 million.
If convicted, Muhyiddin is liable to an imprisonment of up to 20 years, and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges when the charges were read out to him before judge Azura Alwi.
Sin Chew Daily reported that Muhyiddin was released on a RM2 million bail and was also ordered to surrender his passport.
Yesterday, the Bersatu president was summoned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for his role in the Jana Wibawa initiative, which was aimed at helping Bumiputera contractors during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Two individuals have since been charged in court in relation to the scandal, namely Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan and businessman Adam Radlan, who were accused of accepting bribes.
Muhyiddin’s supporters have decried the accusations levied against him, with Bersatu info chief Datuk Razali Idris calling it an “injustice” and a plot by MACC to damage the party’s chances in the upcoming state elections.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
