KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s corruption trial involving Yayasan Akalbudi will resume in April.
High court judge Datuk Colin Lawrence Sequerah fixed the dates during case management today.
The new dates for the deputy prime minister’s trial are from April 10 to 13; May 15 to 18; June 12 to 15; July 24 to 27; August 1 to 3, 7 to 10, and 21 to 24.
The Bagan Datuk MP arrived with his entourage at the court complex about 8.45am.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran prosecuted, while counsel Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik appeared for the accused.
Hisyam had on November 2 last year applied to vacate the hearing, pending Zahid’s appeal at the Court of Appeal.
Zahid, 69, had applied to obtain recorded statements of 15 witnesses from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission involved in his trial.
He claimed the Court of Appeal’s decision would be able to help the defence determine the number and sequence of their witnesses.
Zahid is facing 47 charges, including 12 for criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight for corruption, and 27 for money laundering involving RM31 million of YAB funds.
For the 12 CBT charges, Zahid is alleged to have used the funds to make payments for personal credit cards, insurance policies and licences for his personal vehicles, remittances to a law firm, and contributions to the police football association.
The charge carries a maximum of 20 years’ jail, whipping, and a fine upon conviction. - The Vibes, January 16, 2023
