AHMAD Zahid Hamidi has branded the charges and prosecution brought against him yesterday as “politically motivated”.
The Umno president said this when asked to describe how he felt about his arrest last Thursday and the 45 charges of corruption filed against him yesterday.
“It is politically motivated,” Zahid said in a text message to The Malaysian Insight today.
Yesterday, Zahid had outside the court vowed to fight the charges, and that because his partymen saw them as politically motivated, neither he nor his predecessor, Najib Razak, would not be suspended.
They said Zahid would continue to helm the party until his case was over.
The former deputy prime minister and home minister yesterday claimed trial to 45 counts of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering involving RM114.15 million.
Of the total, RM21.25 million was allegedly for kickbacks for approving projects related to the recruitment of foreign workers.
The sum involved in the 27 charges of money laundering was RM72.06 million, and included the purchase of two bungalow lots in Kajang worth RM5.9 million.
Most of the charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA) were for offences that took place between May 2016 and April this year in the form of bank deposits to a Maybank account.
The deposits were all made from an account belonging to law firm Lewis & Co Advocates & Solicitors, according to the charge sheets.
Zahid also faces 10 counts of criminal breach of trust involving RM20.83 million belonging to the foundation Yayasan Akal Budi, which he chairs.
The former deputy prime minister also faces eight counts of corruption for abusing his power as home minister.
Umno Supreme Council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman had said yesterday the party would not suspend Najib or Zahid as the actions of the current administration against them appeared to be politically motivated.
Tajuddin said the charges against Najib and Zahid were not the same as those faced by some party members who were previously suspended after being charged in court.
The difference, he said, was that the charges against the other party members were not politically motivated.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said earlier today that the charges were not politically motivated and that no one in Malaysia was above the law. β October 20, 2018.
Comments
Posted 5 years ago by Will Be Humble · Reply
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Posted 5 years ago by Lipdah Lia · Reply
What are you talking about...,
It was you who went to see PH President & PM for advise and you are the one who committed major crimes and now when you are caught, you say politically motivated
Whatever it is, you committed a major crime and if you are found guilty, you go directly to jail for the rest of your life..
Posted 5 years ago by TTs Take · Reply
Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply
And Im Brad Pitts better looking twin.
Posted 5 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply
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