High Court grants Zahid discharge not amounting to acquittal in YAB case

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the Yayasan Akalbudi graft case. The ruling was handed down by Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Monday (Sept 4) following representations made by Zahid to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). The MACC is still conducting investigations into the case, and Zahid’s representations contain hundreds of pages, which justify further examination.

Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar listed 11 reasons for the DNAA, including the need to avoid any miscarriage of justice and to allow for more extensive investigations by the authorities. However, Zahid’s counsel, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, argued for a full discharge amounting to an acquittal (DAA) for the deputy prime minister.

The court is currently standing down while Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah considers the matter. Ahmad Zahid is facing 47 charges related to criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering involving funds from Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB).