The prosecution in Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s foreign visa system (VLN) trial has filed an appeal against his acquittal, The Edge reported today.

The notice of appeal was filed today, a source with the Attorney General’s Chambers told theedgemarkets.com on condition of anonymity. 

Last week, the Shah Alam High Court acquitted the former deputy prime minister of all 40 corruption charges involving the VLN.

Presiding judge Yazid Mustafa ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against the Umno president.  

According to the judge, the witnesses who testified against the Bagan Datuk MP were not credible and their testimonies could not be relied on.  

He also said that there was insufficient evidence to prove Zahid had received money as suggested by the prosecution.  

Yazid said that the prosecution failed to produce any close-circuit television (CCTV) recordings to show cash being delivered to Zahid’s residence.   

Touching on the personal ledger—owned by the former administrative manager of the company awarded the VLN contract—that recorded cash payments made to various politicians, government staff and Zahid, the judge said that the account book was unreliable and no weightage should be given to it. 

The prosecution was represented by deputy public prosecutors Raja Rozela Raja Toran, Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, Abdul Malik Ayob, Zander Lim Wai Keong, and B. Thavani, while lawyers Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Ahmad Zaidi Zainal and Hamidi Mohd Noh, represented Zahid. 

Zahid, who is also the Barisan Nasional chairman, had pleaded not guilty to 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to SG$13.56 million (RM43.68 million) from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd for himself as home minister. 

He is said to have extended the contract of the company as the operator of a one-stop centre (OSC) service in China and the VLN system, as well as to maintain its contract with the Home Ministry to supply the VLN integrated system. 

On the other seven charges, he was alleged to have obtained for himself cash of SG$1,150,000, RM3 million, CH₣15,000, and US$15,000 from the same company, which he knew had a connection with his official functions. – September 26, 2022.