The seizure of Bersatu’s bank accounts is tied to Muhyiddin Yassin’s criminal proceedings and should be resolved there, the High Court hears.
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court was told the central issue in Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s judicial review over its frozen bank accounts mirrors the criminal case against its president.
Senior Federal Counsel Nurhafizza Azizan submitted that the matter should therefore be determined by the criminal court, not through judicial review.
“The charges against Muhyiddin were brought in his capacity as Bersatu president, thus, there is a clear nexus between the two,” she said.
She stated the seizure order remains in force until a final judgment is delivered in Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s criminal case.
Earlier, the party’s counsel Rosli Dahlan argued its two bank accounts remain inaccessible since being frozen and seized in 2023.
“The freezing order was only effective for three months,” he said.
He added that Muhyiddin had been charged with criminal offences, not the party itself.
The hearing before Judge Datuk Aliza Sulaiman is set to continue on February 3 next year.
On October 30, 2023, the High Court allowed Bersatu’s application for leave to initiate a judicial review.
The application challenges the MACC’s seizure of its CIMB and AmBank accounts.
Capt (Rtd) Datuk Muhammad Suhaimi Yahya filed the application on May 29, 2023, as a public officer of Bersatu.
Bersatu claimed its accounts were seized on April 19, 2023, without a seizure order being served.
The party said the MACC issued a statement on April 20 stating the accounts had been seized on April 11.
It claimed Bersatu was never informed of the seizure on that initial date. – Bernama
