THE trial of former deputy prime minister Zahid Hamidi on 40 corruption charges over the Foreign Visa System (VLN) will start on May 24 at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

The hearing was initially set for April 24 but was postponed because of the conditional movement control order (CMCO) and was moved to May until June as a result of a change of judge.

High Court judge Mohd Yazid Mustafa said 16 days of  proceedings agreed by all parties are May 24, 25 and 27, June 1 to 3, 14 to 18 and 21 to 25.

Lead prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran said 15 witnesses will be called.

“We have agreed with the new dates as the judge was changed from justice Noorin Badaruddin to justice Mohd Yazid Mustafa.

“Considering all have agreed with the new dates, the trial is expect to go on without anymore postponement.          

“Apart from that, we will be preparing comprehensive witness statements as required by the court,” she told reporters after the setting of the new dates here today.

Zahid, 68, who is also Umno president was not present in court and was represented by counsel Hamidi Mohd Noh.

Zahid pleaded not guilty to 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd to extend the contract of the company to run the One Stop Centre (OSC) in China and the VLN system, as well as to maintain the agreement to supply VLN integrated system paraphernalia to the same company by the Home Ministry.

Zahid allegedly committed the offences at Seri Satria, Precinct 16, Putrajaya and in Country Heights, Kajang, between October 2014 and March 2018 when he was also home minister. 

The charges framed under Section 16 (a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and can be punished under Section 24(1) of the same act, provides a maximum of 20 years in jail and a fine not less than five times of the value of the gratification or RM10,000 whichever is higher upon conviction.

The Bagan Datuk MP also pleaded not guilty to 33 alternative charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code as home minister for receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million in relation to the VLN system between 2014 to 2017.

For another seven charges, Zahid was charged as home minister for accepting S$1.15 million, RM3 million, €15,000 and US$15,000 in cash from the same company, which he knew were in connection with his function as then home minister.

He was charged with committing the offences, under Section 165 of the Penal Code, at a house in Country Heights, between June 2015 and October 2017.

If found guilty, he can be jailed a maximum of two years or fine or both. – Bernama, March 16, 2021.