SHAH ALAM – The corruption case of former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over 40 charges of receiving gratification over the implementation of Malaysia’s foreign visa system (VLN) will begin on April 12 next year at the Shah Alam High Court.
Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said the hearing was earlier fixed for October 12, but postponed due to the conditional movement control order (CMCO).
“An email was received from the court to say that, as ordered by high court judge Datuk Noorin Badaruddin, the hearing dates for the case have been set for April 12 to 15, 19, 20 to 22 and 26 to 28 next year.
"The court will also continue to hear the case on May 3 to 6, 24, 25, 27 and 31 and June 1 to 3, 2021,” he said.
Zahid, 67, had pleaded not guilty to 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (RM41.3 million) from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd as an inducement for himself in his capacity as then home minister, to extend the company’s contract as the operator of the One-Stop Centre (OSC) in China and the VLN system, as well as to maintain the agreement with the company to supply VLN integrated system paraphernalia.
The Bagan Datuk MP had also pleaded not guilty to 33 alternative charges of having received bribes amounting to S$13.56 million in relation to the VLN system between 2014 and 2017. – Bernama, November 23, 2020
