The case mention for former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s seven criminal charges — involving four counts of abuse of power linked to RM232.5 million in bribes and three counts of money laundering totaling RM200 million — begins today.
The proceedings were scheduled after Muhyiddin, who is also Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman, failed in his bid to have all seven charges dropped. The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) had earlier rejected his representation on August 19, which was filed by his legal team led by Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik.
A total of 30 witnesses are expected to be called to testify in the case.
Sessions Court Judge K. Muniandy set today’s mention date to allow both prosecution and defense teams to align case documents and witness statements ahead of the full trial. Muhyiddin, who is the Pagoh Member of Parliament, has been exempted from attending the mention.
In August last year, the High Court had dismissed the four abuse of power charges on grounds that they were vague and baseless. However, on February 28 this year, the Court of Appeal reinstated the charges and ordered them to be returned to the Sessions Court for further action.
On April 4, Muhyiddin filed an application to transfer the case to the High Court, arguing that it involves complex legal issues and is of public interest.
Separately, the Federal Court will deliver its decision this Thursday (November 13) on Semantan Estate Sdn Bhd’s (SESB) application to appeal a Court of Appeal ruling regarding the ownership of 263.272 acres (106.542 hectares) of land in Mukim Batu, known as Duta Enclave.
On June 24, the Court of Appeal had ruled in favour of the government, confirming that the land remains under government ownership. The land — located in the Jalan Duta area — houses several major facilities, including the Inland Revenue Board Complex, government buildings, the National Hockey Stadium, the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM), and the Federal Territory Mosque.
While the court maintained government ownership, it also ordered that compensation be paid to SESB, with the amount to be assessed by the High Court within 90 days, assisted by expert valuation.
The court also dismissed SESB’s cross-appeal seeking ownership transfer of the land, which has been under government acquisition since 1956.
Earlier, on August 8 last year, the High Court had ruled in favour of SESB, ordering the Federal Territory Land Registrar to transfer ownership to the company under Section 417 of the National Land Code 1965. However, the government successfully suspended that decision pending appeal.
Also scheduled for Thursday, the High Court will deliver its decision on Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid’s application to intervene in a case involving the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and offshore assets worth over RM1 billion in Jersey.
Na’imah, the widow of former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, is seeking to be included as an interested party in the proceedings.
Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin fixed the decision date after hearing submissions from Deputy Public Prosecutors Mahadi Abdul Jumaat and Siti Amira Muhammad Ali, representing MACC, as well as Datuk Dr Gurdial Singh Nijar and Abraham Au, who appeared for Na’imah.
