Zahid's VLN case: March 18 set as tentative date for appeal hearing

The Court of Appeal tentatively set March 18 next year to hear the prosecution’s appeal to reverse the acquittal of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the foreign visa system (VLN) corruption case.

The appellate court earlier today fixed the hearing date in the event that the attorney-general rejects the rural and regional development minister’s representation for prosecutors to drop the appeal.

When contacted this afternoon, the respondent’s counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik confirmed the matter.

“Yes, in the event that representation is rejected,” the veteran counsel replied when asked about the tentative date.

Hisyam added that the appellate court has also set Jan 29 next year for case management for the prosecution and defence teams to update on whether the AG accepts the representation.

Prosecutors are appealing against the Shah Alam High Court decision last year to grant a discharge amounting to an acquittal (DAA) to Zahid over 40 graft charges linked to VLN.

Via the appeal, the prosecution seeks for the minister to be ordered to enter his defence.

Zahid’s charges

He claimed trial to 33 counts of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (RM43.6 million) from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) for himself as then home minister, to extend the company’s contract as operator of a one-stop centre (OSC) service in China and the VLN system, as well as to maintain its contract with the home ministry to supply the integrated system.

According to the charges, Zahid was accused of committing the offences at Seri Satria, Precinct 16, Putrajaya and Country Heights, Kajang, between October 2014 and March 2018.

For the remaining seven charges, he was purported to have obtained for himself cash of S$1,150,000, RM3 million, 15,000 Swiss francs (RM70,000) and US$15,000 (RM68,000) from the same firm, in which prosecutors claimed he knew was related with his official functions.

Zahid was purported to have committed the offences at a house in Country Heights, Kajang, between June 2015 and October 2017.

He also pleaded not guilty to 33 alternative counts under Section 165 of the Penal Code, where he was charged in his capacity as then home minister with receiving bribes of S$13.56 million linked to the VLN system, between 2014 and 2017. - Mkini