PUTRAJAYA: The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has decided to withdraw its appeal against the acquittal of Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who faced 40 charges of corruption related to the Foreign Visa System (VLN), effectively maintaining the Shah Alam High Court’s decision to clear him of these charges.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, during a session at the Court of Appeal, the AGC’s deputy head of the appellate and trial division, Datuk Yusaini Amer Abdul Karim, informed a three-judge panel about the withdrawal. The decision was based on the AGC’s acceptance of representations submitted by Ahmad Zahid, highlighting the absence of evidence to suggest that he abused his position to award contracts. Consequently, the panel, led by Judge Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima and including Justices Datuk Azman Abdullah and Datuk Azmi Ariffin, struck out the prosecution’s appeal.
Yusaini explained to the court that the contracts in question were awarded before Ahmad Zahid assumed the p
osition of Home Minister, which eliminated any opportunity for him to misuse his power. The AGC determined that the extension of the contracts was conducted in an orderly manner, adhering to the required procedures.
Ahmad Zahid had previously submitted two letters of representation to the AGC, dated January 26, 2023, and February 7, 2024. These representations, along with the findings of the High Court judge, played a crucial role in the AGC’s decision to uphold the acquittal. The High Court had noted that the source of the allegedly received funds was not investigated, and key individuals linked to the disputed funds were not called during the investigation or trial.
Initially, the Court of Appeal was set to hear the prosecution’s appeal to overturn the acquittal and require Ahmad Zahid to present his defense. However, with the AGC’s withdrawal, the acquittal remains in place. Ahmad Zahid was previously acquitted by the Shah Alam High Court on September 23, 2022, without being required to enter his defense
, leading to the prosecution’s appeal which has now been withdrawn.
The charges against Ahmad Zahid included 33 counts of receiving bribes totaling S$13.56 million from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) in exchange for extending their contract as the operator of a one-stop center service in China and the VLN system. Additionally, he faced seven charges of receiving various sums of money from the company. He was alleged to have committed these offenses between October 2014 and March 2018 in locations including Seri Satria, Precinct 16, Putrajaya, and Country Heights, Kajang.
Following the court’s decision, Ahmad Zahid expressed gratitude to his legal team for their efforts in submitting the representations. His lead counsel, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, also expressed appreciation to the AGC for considering their submissions.