Zahid's lawyer suffers gout episode, trial postponed

 

The criminal breach of trust (CBT), corruption and money laundering trial involving former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today went on for only 30 minutes after his lawyer fell ill.

Lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh told the court that his ankles were swollen from a gout episode, but added that he was ready to continue submissions today.

“I did not expect to have a gout attack, it is very painful and I have a doctor’s appointment at 1.30pm,” he said in the trial of Zahid whose charges involve Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB) funds.

Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah told Hamidi to proceed with his submissions and to inform the court if he was uncomfortable or felt pain.

After about 20 minutes of delivering his submissions while standing, Hamidi sought the court’s permission to be seated and rest as the pain had worsened.

When the session continued, the lawyer requested a postponement of the case as he could no longer withstand the pain although Sequerah had told him earlier that he could deliver his submissions while seated.

Lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh

Deputy Public Prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran did not object to the request, saying: “I think we should let him get treatment.”

Sequerah then postponed the hearing to Wednesday.

'YAB monies not transferred to third party'

Earlier, Hamidi submitted that Zahid could not be accused of committing CBT as millions of ringgit which were withdrawn from the charity foundation had actually been credited into a law firm's client account.

“The monies still belonged to YAB and were not transferred to other third parties,” he said.

Hamidi added that Zahid had no knowledge of the value of the cheque from YAB funds because his former executive secretary Mazlina Mazlan@Ramly had control and dominion over those cheques.

“She (Mazlina) used a signature stamp to issue cheques. We have established that she was negligent, she does not know how cheques and credit cards work.

“We contend that nobody used a signature stamp for the cheques and its only use was for Hari Raya cards,” he said.

Zahid, 68, faces 47 charges with 12 of them involving CBT, eight on corruption and 27 on money laundering, involving tens of millions of ringgit in funds belonging to YAB.

- Bernama