Former Malaysian
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has been charged with abuse
of power and money laundering over projects launched under his
premiership, accusations that he said were politically
motivated.
The charges come on Friday just three months after Muhyiddin lost
a closely fought and divisive general election to Anwar Ibrahim,
and are likely to increase political tensions in Malaysia.
Muhyuddin, who led the country for 17 months between
2020 and 2021, becomes the second Malaysian leader to be charged
with crimes after losing power.
At a Kuala Lumpur sessions court, the former premier was
charged with four counts of abuse of power involving $51.40 million, and two counts of money
laundering involving 195 million ringgit
Muhyiddin pleaded not guilty to all six charges and has
previously said the charges were “political persecution” of the
opposition.
Muhyiddin gets bail
The former premier faces up to 15 years in jail if found
guilty on the money laundering charge, and up to 20 years for
the abuse of power charge.
He will also be subject to a heavy financial penalty.
Muhyiddin was granted bail by the judge and asked to
surrender his passport.
Prime Minister Anwar said he has not interfered in graft
investigations involving Muhyiddin and left it to law
enforcement agencies.
Immediately after the election win in November, Anwar
said he would launch a review of government projects worth
billions of dollars approved by Muhyiddin, including Covid-19
relief programmes, alleging they did not follow proper
procedures.
Two senior members from Muhyiddin’s Bersatu party were recently charged with graft.
The anti-graft agency has also frozen Bersatu’s party accounts.
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