KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) has decided that no further action (NFA) will be taken on the 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering related to Yayasan Akalbudi funds involving Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
According to a statement by the AGC on Thursday (Jan 8), this decision results in the final termination of the case, in accordance with the powers and discretion of the Attorney General under the Federal Constitution and relevant laws.
"The department emphasises that the decision was made based on professional and legal considerations, taking into account the interests of justice, the integrity of the prosecution process, and the need to ensure certainty and transparency in the criminal justice system," the statement said.
The statement referred to the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision on Sept 4, 2023, to grant a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to Ahmad Zahid on 47 charges involving criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering linked to Yayasan Akalbudi funds.
According to the AGC, following the DNAA ruling, further and comprehensive investigations were carried out by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), covering aspects related to the source of funds, the methods of acquisition and the utilisation of the funds.
These included matters raised through six representations submitted to the AGC after Ahmad Zahid was called to enter his defence, it said. "After examining all the materials and new evidence obtained from the further investigations and reviews, the AGC, based on prosecutorial assessment and consideration, found that the available evidence was insufficient to support the continuation of the prosecution on all the charges," the statement read. The AGC said the assessment was conducted by taking into account several factors, including the scope and focus of the investigations at the initial stage that were directly related to the charges filed.
In addition, the AGC said it also took into account internal prosecutorial considerations and assessments recorded at the early stage of the case regarding the suitability and sufficiency of evidence to support the prosecution, as well as the sustainability of continuing the prosecution.
"The department also considered the subsequent further and detailed investigative steps carried out by the MACC to complete and refine the overall picture of the facts, context and new evidence in the case.
"…including the findings from the further investigations, which covered the entire period of the establishment and operations of Yayasan Akalbudi, including the flow and contributions of funds into the foundation from time to time," the statement added.
On Sept 4, 2023, the High Court here granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal to Ahmad Zahid on 47 charges involving criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering related to Yayasan Akalbudi funds.
High Court judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who is now a Federal Court judge, delivered the ruling after the prosecution informed the court that the AGC intended to discontinue the proceedings against him. - Bernama
