After Najib, Zahid’s turn to be in media glare
The Umno president is facing 12 charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight charges of bribery and 27 charges of money laundering involving millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.
Salleh Buang, NST
DATUK Seri Najib’s SRC International case has now come to an end, at least until appeal proceedings commence at the Courtof Appeal.
With that, media attention will from now be on the criminal trial of Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Last Thursday, Zahid made a startling statement that his party, Umno, will not join Perikatan Nasional if the ruling pact registers as a formal coalition.
His statement mystified many.
When questioned about his motives, he told them: “That is up to you to interpret.”
In March this year, Zahid told the media that he wanted to continue “to fight in court” to clear his name.
The Umno president is facing 12 charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight charges of bribery and 27 charges of money laundering involving millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.
Regarding the 12 CBT charges, Zahid had allegedly used Yayasan Akalbudi’s money for his credit cards, insurance policy and licence for personal vehicles, and remittances to a law firm and contributions to th e Royal Malaysia Police football association.
He is alleged to have committed the offences at the Affin Bank Bhd branch in Jalan Bunus off Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur, between Jan 13, 2014, and Dec 23, 2016. The CBT charges (under Section 409 of the Penal Code) carry a penalty, upon conviction, of a prison term of between two and 20 years, whipping and fine.
Regarding the eight bribery charges, Zahid had allegedly accepted bribes from three companies as an inducement for him, in his capacity as the then home minister, to help them secure MyEG projects, supply passport chips, and to be appointed as the operator of migrant visa one-stop centres in Pakistan and Nepal.
The bribery charges [under section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009] carry a penalty, upon conviction, of a prison term not exceeding 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the bribe amount, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
As for the 27 charges of money laundering, Zahid had allegedly engaged in illegal activities between March 29, 2016 and April 11, 2018.
The money-laundering charges [under section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001], carry a penalty, upon conviction, of a prison term of up to 15 years, a fine of up to five times the income from the illegal activities or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
The 12 CBT charges involve monies totalling RM31.06 million, while the eight bribery charges involve RM21.25 million, and the 27 money-laundering charges involve RM72 million.
Proceedings against Zahid started on Nov 18, 2019 at the Kuala Lumpur HighCourt, before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran informed the court that the prosecution would call 20 witnesses.
Zahid’s trial, fixed on March 2, was vacated after he informed the court he had to meet the then newly-appointed Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin “to discuss the formation of a new government”.
The Prime Minister’s Office later made it clear in a statement that Muhyiddin was not scheduled to meet any politician on that day.
Zahid’s defence counsel had applied for the 12 CBT charges to be consolidated into just three charges.
The application was dismissed, and on appeal to the Court of Appeal, it was again dismissed. A panel of three judges ruled that there was “no appealable error” on the part of the trial judge.
Zahid, however, has consistently maintained that the case against him is “politically motivated” and that he is a victim of “selective prosecution”.
A news portal (https://betweenthelines.my) said: “Make no mistake. The charges look damn serious.”
The spotlight on Zahid may very well last equally as long as (if not longer than) Najib’s case.
