KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — The prosecution today completed its case in former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's power abuse trial after calling in 29 prosecution witnesses, which means that the trial will now move on to the next stage.

Lead prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin this afternoon told the High Court that the prosecution closes its case, and that the prosecution will offer six witnesses that Muhyiddin could call in as his witnesses if he is ordered to defend himself in this case.

"With that, the prosecution closes this case. I offer the following witnesses," he said, while listing the potential witnesses and promising to help call in those witnesses if required by Muhyiddin.

The six are Muhyiddin's then deputy chief private secretary Asmar Asmadi Abdullah Sani, Muhyiddin's former principal private secretary Datuk Marzuki Mohamad, Datuk Mohd Ayob Mohd Ali, former Treasury secretary-general Datuk Seri Asri Hamidon, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer Mohd Syahmeizy Sulong, and Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad.

High Court judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin then scheduled four days for continued hearing, namely November 26, December 1 to 3.

When the trial resumes in November and December, the prosecution and Muhyiddin's lawyers are expected to present their arguments on whether Muhyiddin will have to enter his defence in this case.

There are two stages in a criminal trial, with the prosecution having to prove that it has shown a prima facie case after calling in all the prosecution witnesses.

After hearing the arguments from both sides, the High Court will decide whether there is a prima facie case.

If the High Court finds there is no prima facie case, Muhyiddin would be acquitted.

If the High Court decides there is a prima facie case, the trial would move on to the defence stage where Muhyiddin would be ordered to defend himself.

Muhyiddin's trial started on March 9, and has gone on for about 32 days now.

Earlier today, the prosecution applied for a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) for four of the seven charges that Muhyiddin is facing in this trial, with the High Court then exercising its discretion under the law to acquit Muhyiddin on the four charges in the interests of justice.

In this trial, Muhyiddin is now facing only three charges of power abuse involving RM25.3 million in alleged bribes for his party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (from Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Datuk Seri Azman Yusoff, KCJ Engineering Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd).