Malaysia’s former Prime Minister arrested, faces corruption charge

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was arrested on March 9 by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

In a statement, the MACC said Muhyiddin was arrested at 1pm after he was called in to provide statements in connection with the Jana Wibawa economic recovery programme.

The MACC also said it had obtained permission from the Attorney-General’s Chambers to charge Muhyiddin in a Kuala Lumpur court on March 10.

Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu President, will face several charges under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 and Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA), it said.

Section 23 of the MACC Act sets out the offence of using one’s office or position for gratification and carries a penalty of up to 20 years’ jail as well as a fine five times the value of the gratification involved, or 10,000 MYR, whichever is higher.

Section 4(1)(b) of the AMLATFPUAA refers to the offence of “acquiring, receiving, possessing, disguising, transferring, converting, exchanging, carrying, disposing or using the proceeds of an unlawful activity”. It carries a penalty of up to 15 years’ jail and a fine five times the value of the proceeds at the time the offence was committed, or 5 million MYR, whichever is greater.

The Bersatu President is the latest to be arrested in connection with the Jana Wibawa programme. Two Bersatu leaders – Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Segambut deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad – were charged in court last month for soliciting and accepting bribes over projects involving Jana Wibawa./.