KUALA LUMPUR: On Monday( Sept.4 ), the Malaysian High Court granted a request from prosecutors to drop all corruption charges brought against Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, deputy prime minister of Malaysia, in his graft case involving the charity foundation.
Ahmad Zahid, who was facing 47 charges of criminal breach of trust( CBT ), bribery, and money laundering, was given a discharge by the court that was insufficient to result in an indictment. He had entered a not guilty plea on each charge.
The accused is released from the current charges without being exonerated of them when the jury grants a release that does not entail an admission of guilt.
If new evidence emerge, the prosecution still has the choice to drop the charges or restore the case at a later date.
The deputy prime minister was cited by Free Malaysia Today outside the High Court saying,” My family and I are grateful to God because the jury decided to drop the 47 charges against me.” & nbsp,
Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, his attorney, announced to the local advertising that they would appeal the ruling from Monday’s court of appeal on Tuesday. Otherwise, they will be suing for a complete exoneration of all claims brought against Ahmad Zahid.
Ahmad Zahid, 70, was facing 47 charges, including tens of millions of ringgit that belonged to Yayasan Akalbudi( YAB ), including 12 for CBT, 8 for bribery, and 27 for money laundering.
YAB is a nonprofit organization. The foundation’s trustee and sole signatory for checks is the president of the United Malays National Organization( UMNO ).
The Malay Mail reports that Ahmad Zahid’s trial started on November 18, 2019, and that since then, there have been roughly 116 nights of reading.
Ahmad Zahid was appointed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on December 2 of last year as both his assistant and minister of remote and local development.
Ahmad Zahid was exonerated in a separate corruption case involving the unusual visa system in September of last year. Indonesian internet subsequently cited the High Court judge as saying that the trial had not proven a prima facie case against him.