KUALA LUMPUR: The defence team representing Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will file an appeal for a total acquittal on all 47 graft charges against him, according to lead counsel Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik. He stated that they will respect the decision made by the prosecution and the court and will submit the appeal by Tuesday (Sept 5). “Alhamdulillah because the prosecution have invoked their powers to stop proceedings. This is good because for the time being although there’s no total acquittal, there’s a discharge from the 47 charges,” Hisyam said. “The learned Judge did not appreciate our arguments – we submitted before his Lordship that Datuk Seri (Ahmad Zahid) is entitled to discharge amounting to acquittal. However, the Court did not agree,” he added. Hisyam further clarified that they will make an appeal to the Court of Appeal in regards to the decision made in the morning and will request for a total acquittal.
The High Court granted Ahmad Zahid a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) for the 47 charges relating to Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB) funds. Ahmad Zahid expressed his gratitude for the support he received from various individuals throughout the hearings. He also mentioned that he will continue his fight against selective prosecution. “Our role was to continue our struggle as these charges were political in nature and have been put to an end,” Ahmad Zahid stated.
Several Umno leaders including Wanita chief Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad and Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh were present at the court complex. Ahmad Zahid was discharged of 12 criminal breach of trust (CBT) charges, eight counts of bribery, and 27 money laundering charges, involving millions of ringgit from Yayasan Akal Budi. The alleged offenses occurred between March 28, 2016, and April 11, 2018.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
