KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's graft trial involving the Jana Wibawa project has been postponed by the High Court following the death of his brother-in-law.
Justice Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin adjourned the proceedings after the court was informed by Muhyiddin's lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad that his client's brother-in-law passed away earlier Friday (July 10) morning.
"The defence seeks the court's discretion in allowing our client to pay his respects and to attend the funeral prayers in Johor.
"We ask for the trial to be vacated for the day and to resume on Monday (July 13)," Amer Hamzah said here on Friday.
Justice Noor Ruwena allowed the application and extended her condolences to Muhyiddin's family.
The 13th prosecution witness, Nepturis Sdn Bhd director Aliza Abd Malek, was initially scheduled to take the stand under cross-examination by Amer Hamzah.
On Thursday, Aliza told the court that Nepturis secured a RM141mil contract to build the Klang Utara district police headquarters in 2022.
She said behind Nepturis had a non-bumiputra owner, Lian Tian Chuan, and that all decisions pertaining to the company must gain Lian's agreement.
Muhyiddin, 78, was charged with four counts of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM225.3mil in relation to the Jana Wibawa Project from three companies, including Nepturis, and an individual for the party.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Prime Minister's Office, Bangunan Perdana Putra in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020 and Aug 20, 2021.
He also faces three counts of receiving proceeds from illegal activities totalling RM200mil which were deposited into Bersatu's bank accounts between February 2021 and July 2022.
