Former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi arrives at the Shah Alam High Court for his corruption trial in connection with the Foreign Visa System (VLN). .- KK SHAM/The Star
SHAH ALAM: After tendering in 107 exhibits and calling 18 witnesses, the prosecution in the Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi graft trial at the High Court closed its case Thursday after the testimony of its final witness.
Ahmad Zahid is facing 33 charges of allegedly receiving bribes from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) during his tenure as Home Minister to extend the company’s contract to continue operating the one-stop centre in China and the foreign visa (VLN) system.
The alleged graft also ensured the company’s contract agreement for the supply of the VLN integrated system was maintained.
While cross-examined by the defence counsel Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, the final witness, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer V. Mahendran, said he did not call former home minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to record the latter’s statement.
He added he had not done so even though Hishammuddin’s name was in the MACC report, which initiated the investigation into the case.
Hishammuddin was the Home minister from 2009 to 2013 before Ahmad Zahid assumed the position.
“His statement was not recorded because his name did not appear in former UKSB administration manager David Tan’s ledger.
“My investigations included Hishammuddin, but I did not record his statement as there was no evidence of graft,” said Mahendran.
Ahmad Zaidi also said Ahmad Zahid had only received two payments of RM100,000 each from UKSB, to which Mahendran disagreed.
Meanwhile, DPP Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran told High Court judge Justice Mohd Yazid Mustafa that the prosecution would be calling in 27 witnesses if Ahmad Zahid was ordered to enter his defence.
The court fixed Sept 1 and 2 as well as Sept 5 to 8 for both the prosecution and defence to make their oral submissions.
The trial began in May 2021.
