Zahid claims trial to 7 bribery charges for receiving S$4.24m

Former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (above) claimed trial to seven counts of receiving bribes totalling S$4.24 million (RM12.94 million), as an inducement to extend the contract of Ultra Kirana in managing the One Stop Centre (OSC) in China and the Visa Luar Negara (VLN) system. 

The former home minister claimed trial after being read the seven charges before Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi this morning. 

Seen in attendance in the public gallery were Umno president Zahid's party colleagues, among them party supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam and Lenggong MP Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.

Former Umno president Najib Abdul Razak was seen talking to Zahid in the public gallery for 20 minutes, before Najib stepped out of court just before proceedings began at 9.15am.

MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya (below) and her deputy Azam Baki were also present.

Zahid allegedly committed the offences at the deputy prime minister's official residence in Putrajaya between March 2017 and March 2018.

According to the charge sheets, Zahid received two payments of S$300,000 each in March and May 2017, two payments totalling S$1.04 million each in September and November 2017, and three payments of S$520,000 each, in January, February and March 2018.

The charges were framed under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009 and Section 165 of the Penal Code. 

Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act criminalises the act of corruptly soliciting, receiving or agreeing to receive gratification as an inducement or reward in relation to an officer of a public body to do something related to said body.

If found guilty under Section 24(1) of the act, Zahid could be jailed up to 20 years, and fined not less than five times the value of the gratification involved in the offence, or RM10,000, whichever is higher. 

Section 165 of the Penal Code makes it an offence for a public servant to accept, obtain, or agreeing to obtain, any valuable thing without or for inadequate consideration, from a person who is concerned with the official functions of the said public servant. 

The provision states that such an offence is punishable with imprisonment up to two years, a fine, or both, on conviction. 

Azura then granted bail of RM200,000 with one surety. 

The Umno president, who is on garden leave from his post, is set to face further charges at the Shah Alam Sessions Court tomorrow. 

Two days ago, Zahid was arrested at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya after he was summoned for questioning in relation to the Overseas Visa System. He was later released on bail. 

To date, the Bagan Datuk MP has been slapped with 47 charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), receiving gratification and money laundering. 

Zahid was first charged in October last year with 45 counts of CBT involving RM20.83 million, receiving RM21.25 million in gratification as the then home minister, and laundering RM72.07 million in funds. 

Of the 45 charges, 10 concerned CBT amounting to more than RM20.8 million of Yayasan Akal Budi funds on various occasions between 2014 and 2016. 

In December, Zahid was charged with another count of CBT involving RM10 million of the foundation's funds from three years ago.

On Feb 20 this year, he was again subjected to a fresh count of CBT in relation to the alleged abuse of Yayasan Akal Budi funds.

[More to follow] - Mkini