Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, was released today (September 4) without acquittal by the High Court from 47 charges of breach of trust, corruption and money laundering of the Akalbudi Foundation which he founded.
The judge, Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, acquitted Ahmad Zahid, 70, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) after allowing the application of Deputy Public Prosecutor, Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, who informed that the Attorney General’s Department wanted to stop all proceedings against Ahmad Zahid on this level.
However, defense lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik requested that Ahmad Zahid be released from all charges because it is unfair to his client following the accusations against him ‘hanging’ without any certainty.
He said that since the prosecution had decided not to proceed with the proceedings against Ahmad Zahid, his client should therefore be released by the court.
On 24 August, defense lawyers Datuk Hisham Teh Poh Teik, Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Zainal and Hamidi Mohd Noh, in a media statement, requested that the representation decision sent on 8 December 2022 and 25 January 2023 be expedited before the defense called more witnesses in the trial. to there.
The 200-page representation application was also accompanied by a letter from the Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Tan Sri Azam Baki, dated 20 February last, stating that the agency was conducting further investigations regarding new evidence presented by the defence.
Ahmad Zahid was charged with 47 charges, eight of which are corruption, 12 of breach of trust and 27 of money laundering of Akalbudi Foundation funds.
As for the accusation of breach of trust, the Member of Parliament for Bagan Datuk was accused of using foundation funds to make six payments for private credit cards, insurance policies and private vehicle licences, remittances to a law firm and donations to the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) football association.
He was also accused of accepting bribes from the companies Mastoro Kenny IT Consultant & Services, Data Sonic Group Berhad and Profound Radiance Sdn Bhd as an inducement to him in the capacity of the Home Minister at the time to help the companies involved get the MyEG project, supply passport chips and provide one-stop center services in Pakistan and Nepal.
For 27 charges of money laundering, Ahmad Zahid was charged with being involved in direct transactions involving income from illegal activities between 26 March 2016 and 11 April 2018.
