The Kuala Lumpur High Court has rescheduled to April the corruption trial against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi involving millions of ringgit from Yayasan Akalbudi.
Trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah today set for the graft proceedings against Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, to resume on April 10 to 13.
Sequerah also maintained the trial dates on May 15 to 18, June 12 to 15, July 24 to 27, as well as Aug 1 to 3, Aug 7 to 10 and Aug 21 to 24.
During this morning’s mention of the case, deputy public prosecutor Rozela Raja Toran informed that “the accused, or rather the DPM (deputy prime minister), is present in the dock”.
Defence counsel Ahmad Zaidi Zainal and Hisyam Teh Poh Teik appeared for Zahid, who is Bagan Datuk MP.
In November last year, the court had initially set today to Thursday this week for the continuation of the full trial of the case.
However, sometime later, the court had taken off the trial dates this week and converted today’s proceedings into mention.
Having held the deputy prime ministership during the BN administration under then premier Najib Abdul Razak prior to the 14th general election (GE14) in May 2018, Zahid was again appointed as DPM in December last year.
His appointment came on the heels of the formation of the Anwar Ibrahim-led unity government after GE15 in November last year.
On Jan 24 last year, the court ordered Zahid to enter his defence on 12 charges of criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption, and 27 for money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to the foundation.
The trial began on Nov 18, 2019. The prosecution rested its case on March 19, 2021, after calling 99 witnesses.
In the defence stage of the trial since last year, Zahid testified on the witness stand among others that millions of ringgit in Yayasan Akalbudi funds were utilised for both Islamic and general charity work.
Incidentally, on Sept 24 last year, the Shah Alam High Court discharged and acquitted Zahid from 40 corruption charges linked to the foreign visa system (VLN).
However, the prosecution’s appeal against the acquittal is set for case management before the Court of Appeal on Feb 17 this year. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.