Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has filed an application in the Kuala Lumpur High Court seeking a full acquittal in his Yayasan Akalbudi corruption case.
Application follows NFA decision
The move comes after the Attorney-General’s Chambers announced on January 8 that the case had been classified as requiring no further action due to insufficient evidence to proceed with the trial.
Zahid, who was earlier granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, submitted the application on January 28 together with a certificate of urgency.
Hearing adjourned for prosecution response
Justice Nurulhuda Nuraini Nor was set to hear the matter today.
However, deputy public prosecutor Badius Zaman Ahmad requested an adjournment, explaining that the cause papers were only served on the Attorney-General’s Chambers last Friday, January 30.
He said the prosecution needed time to file an affidavit in reply and asked for two weeks.
The judge then fixed February 24 for the next hearing.
Lawyers Hisyam Teh Poh Teik and Hamidi Noh represented Zahid in court.
Background of the case
On September 4, 2024, trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah granted Zahid a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on 47 charges of corruption, money laundering and criminal breach of trust.
The decision was made to allow further investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Earlier, the judge had ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case on all the charges.
Zahid and several defence witnesses had already given their evidence by the time the Attorney-General’s Chambers applied for the discharge not amounting to an acquittal.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Umno president, seeks full acquittal in Yayasan Akalbudi corruption case after AGC classifies matter as NFA due to insufficient evidence.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has applied to the High Court for a full acquittal in his Yayasan Akalbudi case following the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ decision to take no further action. The matter, previously discharged not amounting to acquittal, will be heard on February 24 after prosecution requested time to respond.
