KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has acquitted former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of all 40 graft fees in the Foreign Australian visa System (VLN) case.
High Courtroom judge Justice Mohd Yazid Mustafa kept that the prosecution acquired failed to prove a prima facie situation against Ahmad Zahid and made the particular order for a release and acquittal right here on Friday (Sept 23).
Meanwhile, at a press conference soon after, Ahmad Zahid mentioned he was pleased over his acquittal, adding that from the beginning of his test, he was assured that the judge presiding his case acquired scrutinised all legal aspects before making a choice.
Ahmad Zahid also said their acquittal means that he had never committed any of the allegations mentioned in his graft charges within the VLN case.
“I’m also self-confident that as the chairman of Barisan plus president of Umno that this is the success of Barisan and Umno’s struggles.
“I was shamed, accused and penalized by the court of public opinion. However god-willing, on a Fri, we saw how the law has been maintained for justice and I’m grateful, ” said the Bagan Datuk MP.
Ahmad Zahid furthermore thanked his team of lawyers, their family members, Umno commanders and also supporters to be present.
Ahmad Zahid, 69, had been charged with thirty-three counts of getting bribes amounting in order to S$13. 56mil (RM44mil) from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) during his tenure as home ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) in order to extend the particular company’s contract to carry on operating the one-stop centre in Cina and the VLN.
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The alleged graft was also to ensure that the particular contract agreement for your supply of the VLN integrated system by the company was managed.
Seven extra charges were also levelled against Ahmad Zahid for allegedly procuring for himself S$1. 15mil, RM3mil, 15, 000 Switzerland francs and US$15, 000 in his capability as home ressortchef (umgangssprachlich).
He has been accused of committing the acts in between October 2014 and March 2018 in his private residence within Country Homes, Kajang and his official residence in Putrajaya.
A lot more to come