Zahid’s Bid for Full Release from 47 Charges to Be Heard

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi appeared at the High Court Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday to attend proceedings on his application to be discharged and acquitted of 47 charges involving criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering linked to funds from Yayasan Akalbudi.

KUALA LUMPUR - Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is set to appear in court today for the hearing of his application to be fully discharged and acquitted of 47 charges involving criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering linked to funds from Yayasan Akalbudi.

A check of the court system shows that the application will be heard at 9am before Judge Nurulhuda Nur’aini Mohamad Nor at the High Court Kuala Lumpur. His counsel, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, confirmed the matter when contacted.

On Feb 3, Hisyam said the application for a full acquittal was filed on Jan 28 following a statement issued by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) on Jan 8, which classified the case as “no further action” (NFA).

In its statement, the AGC said the decision was made after a thorough review of the investigation papers and newly obtained evidence.

On Jan 12, Attorney-General Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar stressed that the decision to classify the case as NFA was reached only after prosecutors carefully examined six representations submitted by the president of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

He emphasised that the decision was not made arbitrarily and that the AGC would not grant NFA status without a comprehensive assessment of the facts, evidence, and legal merits of the case.

Previously, on Sept 4, 2023, the High Court granted Zahid a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) after the prosecution applied to halt the proceedings. The ruling was delivered by Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who now serves at the Federal Court.