4-9-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) A Malaysian court has dismissed 47 corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, a move that has raised eyebrows as his trial was already at an advanced stage.
Following the court’s decision, Zahid held a news conference where he revealed that while the High Court had discharged him, it did not grant him a full acquittal. This means that he could potentially face recharging in the future. Nonetheless, Zahid expressed his gratitude that the “politically motivated accusations against me have ended.”
Zahid holds a prominent position as the leader of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), and his support has been crucial in assisting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in forming a unity government. However, his dismissal from the corruption charges could impact the anti-corruption stance of Anwar’s government. Opposition leaders have alleged that Zahid supported Anwar in the hope that the charges against him would be dropped.
The court’s ruling comes on the heels of recent local elections, in which the Islamist-Malay nationalist opposition bloc gained significant support, further solidifying their presence in government-ruled states.
Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Zahid’s lawyer, disclosed that the prosecutors had sought to drop the proceedings partly due to the need for further investigation. He added that the defense intends to apply for a full acquittal. It is worth noting that this dismissal comes despite the court’s previous ruling in January 2022, which stated that the prosecutors had successfully established a case against Zahid and ordered him to enter his defense.
Zahid, who is 70 years old, faced a total of 12 counts of criminal breach of trust, 27 counts of money laundering, and eight counts of bribery, involving a sum exceeding 31 million ringgit ($6.7 million) from his family foundation. Over 110 witnesses have testified during the course of the trial. Prosecutors alleged that funds originally intended for charitable purposes were misappropriated for Zahid’s personal use, including paying off credit card debts and indulging in shopping sprees.
