Witness Testifies To "Substantial And Frequent" Transactions Totalling RM19.5 Mln Credited Into Bersatu Account

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- A bank officer testified today before the High Court, during the trial of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who faces seven charges of abuse of power and money laundering, that substantial and frequent transactions totalling RM19.5 million were credited into the account of the political party Bersatu between 2021 and the end of 2022.

Norazeanti Miswan, 39, an assistant branch manager at Bank Muamalat's Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) Shah Alam branch, said the total amount was credited through 29 cheques from a Bank Muamalat account belonging to Mamfor Sdn Bhd into Bersatu's account between May 12, 2021, and Nov 16, 2022.

"Each transaction carried out by Mamfor Sdn Bhd was suspicious, and it occurred repeatedly to the same recipient (Bersatu) from 2021 until the end of 2022," said the ninth prosecution witness.

Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin asked about the difference between Mamfor Sdn Bhd and other companies.

Norazeanti answered: "Because normally, other companies make payments that are consistent with the nature of their business."

Wan Shaharuddin: What does that mean? Norazeanti: "I have not found any other company making payments to other political parties."

In response to another question, Norazeanti stated that the word "donation" was used as the reason for issuing the banker's cheques, and that the phrase "political donation" or similar terms were not used.

Wan Shaharuddin: Donation only to whom? The witness: To the Bersatu party.

Norazeanti also knew that Bersatu, UMNO, DAP and PAS were political parties, but said Mamfor Sdn Bhd did not make any donations to those parties. 

In response to Wan Shaharuddin's question as to what was meant by "substantial and frequent", she answered: "Substantial and frequent because the amount of each banker's cheque issued ranged from RM500,000 to RM2 million, and the frequency occurred from 2021 until the end of 2022."

Norazeanti further testified that a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) was prepared by the bank and sent to Bank Muamalat's headquarters for further evaluation.

Wan Shaharuddin: Throughout your time as a bank officer, were these transactions the kind of transactions ordinarily carried out by a company?

Norazeanti: "No, I have not seen such transactions carried out by any other company."

When asked by Wan Shaharuddin what had happened to Mamfor's bank account now, Norazeanti stated that the Mamfor account was closed by the customer on Feb 26, 2025, because the bank had sent a notice of account closure to the customer, and the company itself effected the closure.

Muhyiddin, 78, who was then Prime Minister and Bersatu president, is charged with four counts of abuse of power for allegedly soliciting RM232.5 million in bribes for the political party from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Mamfor Sdn Bhd, and Datuk Azman Yusoff in connection with the Jana Wibawa project.

He is accused of committing the offence at the Prime Minister's Office, Bangunan Perdana Putra, Putrajaya, between March 1, 2020, and Aug 20, 2021, under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

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

These charges were brought under Section 4(1)(b) 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 either five times the value of the proceeds from unlawful activities or RM5 million, whichever is higher.

The trial resumes tomorrow. 

--BERNAMA