Zahid slapped with another 7 charges

Bede Hong Bede Hong Updated 6 years ago · Published on 26 Jun 2019 9:57AM · 1 Comments

Former deputy prime minister and home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today, where he claimed trial to seven corruption charges. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, June 26, 2019.

AHMAD Zahid Hamidi was slapped with seven more corruption charges involving S$4.24 million (RM12.9 million) related to the awarding of a contract to a company to handle the foreign visa system.

The offence was said to have taken place at the deputy prime minister’s official residence in Seri Satria, Putrajaya, between March 28, 2017 and March 2, 2018.

Zahid, who was then deputy prime minister and home minister, was accused of receiving S$4.24 million from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd to extend its contract to manage a one-stop centre in China and VLN, or overseas passport programmes.

Zahid claimed trial to all charges under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act after they were read before judge Azura Alwi at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today.

If found guilty, Zahid could be jailed up to 20 years. 

The Umno president was indicted in court after MACC questioning yesterday.

Zahid, dressed in a black batik, appeared calm when the charges were read. 

Former prime minister Najib Razak appeared briefly in court in a show of support. Also sitting in the public gallery was MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya.

Zahid did not speak to the press.

Former prime minister Najib Razak making an appearance at the courts today in a show of support for Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, June 26, 2019.

“This is part of a series of wrongdoing… there will be 33 charges of similiar transactions (at another court) tomorrow,” Latheefa, accompanied by MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki, told reporters. 

She added the case was not linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal. 

MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya at the courts today to hear the charges read out to former home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, June 26, 2019.

Zahid, who is expected to be charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court tomorrow, was represented by Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, Kitson Foong, Hamidi Mohd Noh, Rosal Azimin and Mohd Shahril Madisa. Mohd Mukhzany Fariz Mohd Mokhtar and Zander Lim Wai Keong prosecuted.

Zahid already faces 47 counts of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and receiving gratification.

He faces 12 counts of CBT involving some RM21 million in funds from Yayasan Akal Budi, which he once led.

He also faces eight graft charges involving RM21.25 million and 27 money-laundering charges involving RM72 million. – June 26, 2019.

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Comments

  • Slap him with another hundred charges and put him in the slammer for life. He is a traitor to the country. Having been placed in a portfolio which is supposed to ensure the security of the country, he instead profited from it by selling to the highest bidder. His crimes are as serious as his erstwhile boss, the mega-thief Najib.

    Posted 6 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply