The prosecution is preparing the witness statement of former finance minister Tengku Zafrul for Muhyiddin Yassin’s trial, with 99.5% of statements already handed to the defence

KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution is finalising the witness statement of former finance minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz for the graft trial of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin informed the High Court that 99.5% of witness statements have been provided to the defence.

He stated that Tengku Zafrul’s statement would be handed over two weeks before he is called to testify.

Muhyiddin’s lawyer, Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, confirmed receipt of the statements but noted the defence has yet to receive one from businessman Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhari.

Amer Hamzah sought confirmation on whether Syed Mokhtar would be called as a witness.

Wan Shaharuddin clarified that the current witness list pertains only to the Projek Jana Wibawa case.

He explained that Syed Mokhtar’s name was included in the witness list for the separate money laundering charges provided three years ago.

“If no witness statement is submitted to the defence, the witness will likely testify orally,” Wan Shaharuddin added.

Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin then directed the prosecution to submit the full witness list by this Friday.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was absent from proceedings after being granted court leave.

The court has scheduled 29 hearing days for the case running from March through August this year.

Muhyiddin faces four counts of abuse of power for allegedly soliciting RM232.5 million in bribes for his party.

The charges relate to the Jana Wibawa project between March 2020 and August 2021.

He also faces three charges of receiving RM200 million in illegal proceeds from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd.

The funds were allegedly deposited into Bersatu’s bank accounts between 2021 and 2022.

On October 7 last year, the Attorney General’s Chambers rejected Muhyiddin’s application to dismiss the seven charges against him.

 The Sun Malaysia