SHAH ALAM – The high court here today allowed an application by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is facing 40 corruption charges related to the extension of a contract to Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) to operate the foreign visa system (VLN), for the temporary return of his passport to enable him to go to Germany for treatment.
The Umno president’s lawyer Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Zainal said the application was made before judge Datuk Mohd Yazid Mustafa at the said court.
The application is similar to that made at the Kuala Lumpur High Court last week, he told reporters today.
He said the temporary release of the passport will not affect Zahid’s next trial date on October 22.
On October 7, lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh, also representing Zahid, said his client applied to the Kuala Lumpur High Court for his passport to be released on October 26, and the document will be returned on November 21.
Hamidi told judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah that Zahid is suffering back and neck pain, and needs to undergo treatment by a leading specialist in Munich.
Zahid faces 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (RM42 million) from UKSB 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-step centre in China and VLN, as well as to maintain the agreement to supply VLN integrated system paraphernalia to the same company by the Home Ministry.
On the other seven counts, he was charged in his capacity as home minister with accepting S$1.15 million, RM3 million, €15,000 (RM75,663) and US$15,000 (RM62,115) in cash from the same company when he knew it had a connection to his functions as minister then. – Bernama, October 11, 2021
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