Zahid’s corruption trial to resume on Aug 25

SHAH ALAM: After being postponed twice due to the movement control order, the trial of Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on 40 corruption charges in connection with the Foreign Visa System (FVS), will resume at the High Court here on Aug 25.

Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran said the trial of the former deputy prime minister would be held for three days, on Aug 25, Sept 1 and Sept 2, before Justice Datuk Mohd Yazid Mustafa.

“The prosecution will call two or three witnesses to testify on Aug 25,” she said.

Ahmad Zahid, 68, is facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (RM42 million) from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd as inducement for himself in his capacity of a civil servant and then home minister, to extend the contract of the company as the operator of One Stop Centre in China and the FVS system, as well as to maintain the agreement to supply FVS integrated system paraphernalia to the same company by the Home Ministry.

He allegedly committed the offences at Seri Satria, Precinct 16, Putrajaya and in Country Heights, Kajang, between October 2014 and March 2018.

The charges, under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, carry a maximum of 20 years’ jail and a fine not less than five times the value of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Ahmad Zahid was also charged with 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 connection with his function as then home minister.

He was charged with committing the offences at a house in Country Heights between June 2015 and October 2017 under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of two years or a fine, or both. – Bernama