THE High Court in Shah Alam today granted Ahmad Zahid Hamidi – who is facing 40 charges of corruption involving the extension of contract to Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) to operate the foreign visa system (VLN) – temporary return of his passport, so he could go to Germany for treatment.

Zahid’s lawyer, Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, said the application was made before judge Mohd Yazid Mustafa.

The application is similar to that made at Kuala Lumpur High Court last week, he said, adding that the temporary release of the passport would not affect Zahid’s next trial date on October 22.

On October 7, lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh, also representing Zahid, said his client had applied to Kuala Lumpur High Court for his passport to be released on October 26, to be returned on November 21.

Hamidi informed high court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah that his client was suffering from back and neck pain, and needed to get treatment from a leading specialist in Munich.

Zahid is facing 33 charges of receiving bribes totalling S$13.6 million (RM42 million) from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd 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 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.

For another seven charges, Zahid was charged as Home Minister for accepting S$1,150,000, RM3,000,000, €15,000 (RM75,663) and US$15,000 (RM62,115) in cash from the same company which he knew had a connection with his function as home minister. – Bernama, October 11, 2021.