Court of Appeal affirms Zahid’s acquittal in VLN corruption case

 

Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had been acquitted of all 40 charges brought in connection with his foreign visa system corruption case.

PUTRAJAYA: 

The Court of Appeal today upheld the High Court’s acquittal of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in his foreign visa system (VLN) corruption case as the prosecution had withdrawn its appeal.

A three-member bench chaired by Justice Ruzima Ghazali struck out the appeal.

“We are striking out the matter since the public prosecutor has withdrawn the appeal,” he said.

Zahid was charged with 33 counts of receiving bribes totalling S$13.6 million (RM42 million) from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd between 2014 and 2018 while he was home minister and deputy prime minister under the previous Barisan Nasional administration.

He was also charged with seven other counts of obtaining for himself the sums of S$1.15 million, RM3 million, 15,000 Swiss francs, and US$15,000 from the same company in connection with his official duties.

On Sept 23, 2022, Justice Yazid Mustafa, then a High Court judge, acquitted Zahid of all 40 charges after ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him. - FMT