Kuala Lumpur, 4 Sep, 2023 (GNP): In a significant development, Malaysia has decided to drop the multimillion-dollar corruption case against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Zahid had been facing 47 charges related to criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering, all linked to the alleged misuse of $27 million from Yayasan Akalbudi, a charity he had founded to combat poverty.
The decision to drop the charges came during a hearing, with Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah granting Zahid a “discharge not amounting to an acquittal.” This legal maneuver allows the prosecution to potentially revive the charges at a later date if they wish to do so.
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Zahid expressed gratitude for the court’s decision, asserting that he and his family were pleased to be relieved of all 47 charges. From the outset, Zahid had maintained his innocence and contended that the charges against him were politically motivated. His defense had sought a complete acquittal, and Zahid’s legal team announced their intent to appeal the discharge ruling.
This case against Zahid dates back to 2018 when he was initially charged with corruption, following Malaysia’s historic general election. At that time, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which had been in power for six decades, lost power due to widespread public anger over corruption issues, including the 1MDB scandal. The subsequent election results led to a coalition government formed by Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan, in partnership with UMNO and other parties.
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Anwar’s coalition campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, and the dropping of charges against Zahid may raise concerns about ongoing cases against other prominent politicians, including former Prime Minister Najib Razak. Najib is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence in a 1MDB-related case and faces additional 1MDB trials.
Prominent civil society figure Maria Chin Abdullah criticized the decision, describing it as a “sad day for democracy.” She called for a more comprehensive explanation from the prosecution regarding its decision to drop the case. Abdullah stressed that citizens expected justice to be served and that the discharge decision seemed to convey that “corruption is OK.”
In March, Anwar Ibrahim had pledged to combat corruption “without fear or favor” and emphasized his commitment not to interfere with court processes. Zahid’s trial began in November 2019, and in January of the following year, the court ruled that the prosecution had presented enough evidence for the case to proceed, prompting Zahid to enter his defense.
Throughout the trial, 99 witnesses were called by the prosecution, while 15 witnesses appeared on behalf of Zahid’s defense.