Court To Hear Ahmad Zahid’s Bid For Full Acquittal In Yayasan Akalbudi Case Today

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's application to be acquitted and discharged of 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds will be heard at the High Court today.

A check with the court system showed that the application will be heard before High Court Judge Nurulhuda Nur’aini Mohamad Nor at 9 am.

Lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, who represents Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, when contacted by Bernama today, confirmed the matter.

On Feb 3, Hisyam said the application for his client’s full acquittal was filed on Jan 28, following a media statement by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) on Jan 8 stating that it had decided to take no further action (NFA) on the 47 charges involving Ahmad Zahid.

In its media statement on Jan 8, the AGC said it decided on the NFA after reviewing new materials and evidence relating to the 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds faced by Ahmad Zahid.

On Jan 12, Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar said the decision to classify the case as NFA was made only after the prosecution had carefully examined six representations submitted by the UMNO president.

He said that the decision was not made arbitrarily, adding that the AGC would not classify any case as NFA without a thorough assessment of the facts, evidence and legal merits.

On Sept 4, 2023, the High Court here granted Ahmad Zahid a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on the 47 charges after the prosecution informed the court that it would discontinue the proceedings.

The decision was delivered by then High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who has since been elevated to the Federal Court.

-- BERNAMA