Tengku Zafrul testifies in Muhyiddin corruption trial

KUALA LUMPUR: Former finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz testified in the High Court here today in the corruption and money laundering trial of ex-prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Tengku Zafrul, 53, the prosecution’s 11th witness, arrived at the court complex at 8.30am.

The prime minister’s senior political adviser gave evidence before Justice Noor Ruwena Nurdin.

Muhyiddin, 78, who was prime minister and Bersatu president at the time, faces four charges of using his position to obtain RM225.3 million in bribes linked to the Jana Wibawa project from three companies – Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd – as well as Azman Yusoff, allegedly for Bersatu.

He is accused of committing the offences at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020 and Aug 20, 2021, under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

The Pagoh MP also faces three charges of receiving RM200 million in proceeds from unlawful activities from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, which were deposited into Bersatu’s Ambank and CIMB Bank accounts at branches in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur between February 2021 and July 2022.

He was charged under Section 4(1)(b), read together with Section 87(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of five times the value of the proceeds of unlawful activity or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.