THE Kuala Lumpur High Court today dismissed former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s application to delay cross-examination by the prosecution pending the outcome of an appeal.

Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah said there is no risk of the Umno president being prejudiced in the case.

“There are no special circumstances to stay the proceedings as the applicant (Zahid) has not met the threshold. He is not being denied a fair trial,” he was quoted saying by portal Free Malaysia Today.

Sequerah said his decision was bound by a Federal Court ruling.

He said Zahid’s lawyers could interview other witnesses, including the Bagan Datuk MP’s family members.

“The prosecution will also assist them (defence) to get the witnesses,” he said.

The Umno president filed the stay application on June 23 pending the outcome of his appeal to obtain witness statements recorded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran submitted that Zahid was attempting to stall his ongoing corruption trial, which began in 2019.

“The applicant (Zahid) is delaying the trial for the court to determine the final outcome,” she said in her submission.

With the accused being a former deputy prime minister, Raja Rozela said this trial had gained media attention, locally and abroad.

She said Zahid is facing serious charges and, if convicted, the sentence will carry long jail terms.

She maintained that Zahid would not be subject to prejudice should the stay of proceedings be denied.

“This trial is a chance for him to vindicate himself,” she added.

Raja Rozela said the trial started three years ago and Zahid had made four interlocutory applications so far to delay the case.

Meanwhile, Zahid’s lead counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik submitted that Zahid wanted the witness statements to put up “a complete and comprehensive defence”.

“He does not want to give his defence in instalments,” he said, adding that the statements would corroborate Zahid’s testimony.

He said this application is a contest between an expeditious trial and a fair trial.

“However, speed must not be sacrificed for justice. He is entitled to a fair trial as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.”

Hisyam blamed the various movement control orders implemented nationwide over the last two years as a reason the trial has taken a long time. 

Zahid, 69, is accused of 47 counts of money laundering and criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving millions of ringgit from Yayasan Akalbudi and accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as home minister.

Twelve of the charges are for CBT, eight are for corruption and the remaining 27 are for money laundering.

The hearing resumes tomorrow. – July 4, 2022.