Photo by Shahrin Yahya/The Edge
KUALA LUMPUR (May 12): Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's matter regarding a letter of representation in his foreign visa system (VLN) case has been adjourned for the third time to give Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun time to consider the matter.
As such, another case management has been set for July 28 for the prosecution to update the court.
It is understood that the Barisan Nasional chairman had sent a series of letters of representation from January, with the latest one sent in February.
Previously, The Edge reported that the rural and regional development minister sent the letter of representation on the likelihood to persuade the AG to drop the prosecution's appeal in the case.
In September last year, Shah Alam High Court judge Datuk Mohd Yazid Mustafa acquitted and discharged Zahid, who is also the Umno president, of all 40 graft charges, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Zahid.
The 40 charges comprised 33 charges under Section 16(A)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act, and seven charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code.
Subsequently, the prosecution filed an appeal against this decision.
Besides this case, Zahid also sent a letter of representation with regard to another criminal trial involving millions of ringgit from charitable foundation Yayasan Akalbudi.
Zahid's lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh said they sent a letter in January, and an additional letter in February with new evidence and facts for the AG's consideration.
Proceedings have been postponed several times before due to the letter of representation, and the trial before judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah is now set to continue in August.
In the trial, the 70-year-old is facing 47 charges, including 12 for criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption, and 27 for money laundering.
- Bursa Malaysia opens as usual as regulators investigate online trading account breach
- KLCI gains to track US rally despite overnight hacking, amid rate cut hopes
- Free influenza vaccines for senior citizens with comorbidities
- Trump says US talking with China on trade after Beijing’s denial
- Hack-hit Bina Puri shares fall to 18-month low, short selling suspended
- Malaysia tells US it is open to talks on trade deficit and non-tariff barriers to reduce tariffs
- Malaysia to cut growth outlook, discuss fair trade with US, says Amir Hamzah
- Router maker TP-Link faces US criminal antitrust investigation — Bloomberg
- My Say: Turning tariff turmoil into opportunity: the private equity case for Malaysia
- Even Porsche can't find its lane in China as foreign automaker sales skid