KUALA LUMPUR – Although the high court here has adjourned Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s graft trial, judge Datuk Mohd Yazid Mustafa has ordered the hearing to resume soonest.
Yazid today said court proceedings must resume on September 1 and 2 – dates that were previously fixed – reported Malay Mail.
“I was made to understand that the accused will undergo an operation, but as to how long the recovery period is subjected to the health and necessity will be affirmed through a doctor’s confirmation.
“This is a public interest case and the court wishes that both parties (prosecution and defence) will be able to come to an agreement on further hearing dates for the case to resume at the soonest,” he was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, defence lawyer Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Zainal told the court today that Zahid has been hospitalised since Sunday after a fall.
Zaidi added that his defence team will attend a subpoena hearing at the courthouse here later today after Zahid’s doctor was summoned to provide an explanation on his medical condition for another criminal trial.
Zahid faces 40 corruption charges in connection with the foreign visa system (VLN) – 33 counts of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (RM42 million) from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd as an inducement for himself, in his capacity as a civil servant and the then home minister, to extend the contract of the company as the operator of a one-stop centre in China and the VLN, as well as to maintain the agreement to supply VLN paraphernalia to the same firm by the Home Ministry.
He allegedly committed the offences at Seri Satria in Putrajaya and Country Heights in Kajang between October 2014 and March 2018.
The charges, framed under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, provides for a maximum 20 years’ jail and a fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
For the other seven charges, Zahid was charged, as the then home minister, for accepting S$1.15 million, RM3 million, €15,000 (RM75,663) and US$15,000 (RM62,115) in cash from the same company, which he knew had a connection with his functions as a minister.
He was charged with committing the offences in Country Heights between June 2015 and October 2017 under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of two years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Zahid is also facing another corruption trial involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds, 47 charges in total including – 12 on criminal breach of trust, 27 on money laundering and eight on corruption – involving tens of millions of ringgit in Yayasan Akalbudi funds. – The Vibes, August 25, 2021
