KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has granted Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi a temporary release of his passport for him to perform Umrah in Mecca.
Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah allowed the application by Ahmad Zahid to get access to his travel document after the court was informed by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran that the prosecution would not object to the request.
The prosecutor, however, said Ahmad Zahid's Umrah dates were clashing with the scheduled trial dates (April 26 - 28) and it should be replaced with new dates.
"Our instruction is not to object to the application.
"For the sake of justice as well as for the prosecution, we would like to seek extra dates for the case to be brought forward for the hearing of the defence case," she said.
Earlier, Ahmad Zahid's lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik requested for the court to release the passport immediately to facilitate visa application process.
He said his client would be away between April 21 and April 30 and the passport would be returned to the court before May 5.
Justice Sequerah then allowed the application and ordered for the passport to be released today (April 8).
He also fixed April 13, 15 and July 1 as the new trial dates for Ahmad Zahid's defence trial.
This was the second time the court had allowed Ahmad Zahid access to his passport.
On Oct 11 last year, the same court allowed Ahmad Zahid's application for the temporary release of his passport for him to undergo a surgery in Munich, Germany.
Ahmad Zahid is facing 47 charges - 12 for criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering - involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akal Budi.
On Jan 24, Ahmad Zahid was ordered to enter his defence on all the charges.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
