KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been granted temporary release of his passport by the Sessions Court to attend his eldest granddaughter's graduation in London at the end of this month.
Judge Rozina Ayob approved the request after the prosecution represented by Nor Asma Ahmad and Zander Lim did not object to the application of the 77-year-old Pagoh member of parliament to get his passport from today until Aug 20.
Rozina ordered the passport to be handed over to Muhyiddin, whose registered name is Mahiaddin Md Yasin, today and returned to the court on Aug 20.
Asked by Rozina why the passport was needed early, Muhyiddin's lawyer, Datuk Seri K. Kumaraendran said it was for his client to obtain clearance from the Immigration Department.
Muhyiddin, in his affidavit-in-support for the application filed on June 26, stated that he and his wife will fly to London on the night of July 19 and are expected to return here on Aug 16.
The Bersatu president said he and his wife will be attending the graduation ceremony on July 23 at the Royal Festival Hall in Southbank Centre, London.
He said his granddaughter, Iman Suraya Fakhri Yassin, had obtained First Class in Bachelors of Arts Honours (Business Management) from University of Westminster.
"This ceremony is an important occasion for my granddaughter and her family members.
"I want to attend her graduation because it is once in a lifetime and I want to witness and recognise her success.
"She had also expressed wishes for my wife and I to attend the graduation and to bear witness to her achievements.
"The tickets to attend the graduation have been purchased for me and my other family members," he said.
Muhyiddin said he was not a flight risk and as all his family and assets are in the country, it was impossible for him to leave them or abscond.
He also said his international passport had been given to him temporarily thrice in the past and his lawyers had returned it to court on the set date on his behalf.
On March 10 last year, Muhyiddin was charged with four counts of using his powers as the then prime minister and Bersatu president to obtain bribes amounting to RM232.5 million from three companies, namely Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd as well as Datuk Azman Yusoff for the party.
He had allegedly committed the offences at the prime minister's office, Bangunan Perdana Putra, Federal Government Administration Centre in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020 and Aug 20, 2021.
He was also charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court on March 13 last year with receiving proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to RM5 million, and the case had been transferred to the Sessions Court here for a joint trial.
On Aug 15 last year, the High Court acquitted and discharged Muhyiddin of four counts of abuse of power involving RM232.5 million in connection with the Jana Wibawa project.
Following the development, Muhyiddin filed an application to strike out his remaining three money laundering charges linked to the Jana Wibawa scandal.
He also wanted the Sessions Court to grant him a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) from the charges.
The prosecution then filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal against the decision, and the court has set Feb 28 and 29 for the hearing.
On Nov 29 last year, the same court dismissed Muhyiddin's application for permanently retrieving his passport.