KUALA LUMPUR: The Court of Appeal (CoA) will today deliver its decision on former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's application for review to restore his discharge and acquittal (DAA) on four abuse of power charges linked to the Jana Wibawa programme during his tenure.
Muhyiddin, who is the Perikatan Nasional chairman, arrived at the CoA clad in a blazer and a black songkok and flanked by leaders such as Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.
The decision by a panel of judges is scheduled for 9am.
The 77-year-old is seeking a review of a previous panel's decision which unanimously granted the prosecution's application to set aside the Kuala Lumpur High Court's order to acquit and release him in August last year.
On Aug 15 last year, High Court judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin struck out the case linked to Jana Wibawa programme, ruling that all the four charges against the Pagoh member of parliament were defective and in bad faith.
The judgment was made on two grounds - lack of details in the charges and the accused was charged on offences unknown to the law.
However, the panel said Muhammad Jamil had erred in law when he ruled that the four charges did not disclose any offence known to law and that it was clear and unambiguous and ordered the case to be remitted to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
Muhyiddin, had on March 27 this year, applied for a review on grounds that the panel's decision was null as it was made without the jurisdiction required under Section 50(1) of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.
On March 10 last year, Muhyiddin was charged with using his then prime minister and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president positions 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.
On April 18, Muhyiddin, who is also Perikatan Nasional chairman, had on April last year, filed an application to quash the four charges under Section 23 (1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act.