Zahid to be charged today

PUTRAJAYA: Former Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is set to be charged in court today and tomorrow on the foreign visa (VLN) corruption case.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has received the green light from the Attorney General’s Chambers to charge the former Home Minister, who is also Umno president.

The charges, under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act and 165 of the Penal Code, will be filed at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today and the Shah Alam Sessions Court tomorrow.

Prosecutors will file charges against Zahid under Section 165 of the Penal Code at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today.

Sources said he is expected to face at least seven charges relating to corruption.

On Thursday, Zahid will be also charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court.

According to sources, he will face about 33 charges under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act for bribery.

The MACC also confirmed that they had arrested the Bagan Datuk MP on Monday when he came to the commission’s headquarters at 10am for questioning.

He was then released on MACC bail.

With the new charges, the Bagan Datuk MP would have close to 90 cases against him.

He currently faces 47 charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), receiving gratification and money laundering.

Of the 47 charges, 12 were CBT cases involving some RM21mil of funds from Yayasan Akal Budi – a foundation headed by Zahid.

He also faces eight graft charges amounting to RM21.25mil and 27 money-laundering charges totalling RM72mil.

He pleaded not guilty to all 47 charges.