Govt files notice of appeal over Zahid’s graft acquittal

PETALING JAYA: The Attorney-General’s Chambers has filed a notice of appeal to challenge former home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamdi’s acquittal of 40 charges of receiving bribes from a company to extend its foreign visa system contract.

According to a source, the notice was filed at the High Court in Shah Alam at 4.40pm today.

The appeal comes days after Attorney-General Idrus Harun said the prosecution would study the judgment of High Court judge Yazid Mustafa who had ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against Zahid.

Zahid, 69, had been accused of 33 counts of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (RM42 million) from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd between 2014 and 2018 while he was home minister.

The prosecution said the alleged bribes were to extend the firm’s contract to handle a foreign visa system and a one-stop centre in China.

Zahid had also been charged with seven other counts of obtaining for himself the sums of S$1.15 million, RM3 million, 15,000 Swiss francs and US$15,000 from the same company in connection with his official duties. — Free Malaysia Today