Proceeding with Muhyiddin charges could have jeopardised other cases, says AGC

The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has explained that continuing with four charges against former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin could have jeopardised its approach and evidentiary case for other charges still pending against him. In a statement, the AGC said its decision to drop one predicate offence and three money laundering charges related to Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd was based on a professional evaluation of the evidence, the chances of proving the case, and the overall interests of the prosecution.

The assessment revealed that pursuing the charges would pose significant litigation risks, including undermining the strategy and evidentiary case for the remaining charges against Muhyiddin. The AGC emphasized that the role of a public prosecutor is not to defend a charge at any expense, but to ensure that only charges backed by sufficient evidence and defensible in court are pursued.

This clarification came after DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo, who is also the Digital Minister, urged Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar to provide an explanation for the decision to discontinue the four charges against Muhyiddin. Gobind highlighted the importance of transparency, especially given the public interest in the case and the trial's near conclusion.

He argued that discontinuing high-profile prosecutions without a clear justification could undermine public confidence in the attorney-general and the criminal justice system.