Zahid's case proof of politically-motivated prosecution - Perak Umno

IPOH - Umno Perak describes the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision granting a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi involving charges related to funds belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi, as proof of a politically-motivated prosecution.

Its chairman Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said considering the prosecution's 11 grounds to halt the trial proceedings, the credibility of law enforcement agencies including the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must be restored.

This, he said should be done as it has now been revealed that there was an element of political interference in the case.

“Perak State Umno Liaison Body is grateful to the High Court's decision granting a DNAA to the Umno president on the 47 charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), corruption and money laundering.

“The court’s decision reflected as a victory for all the tests Zahid had faced for five years in clearing his name from the politically-motivated charges deliberately made against him,” he said in a statement, today.

Saarani said the decision should be a lesson to all parties on how the judicial institution that is the backbone of the justice and peace system must always be defended from becoming a political instrument.

He said Perak Umno’s stance was that the unity government must become an example by providing full freedom to legal institutions in enforcing justice to ensure the dark episodes of political prosecution would not repeat itself.

Earlier, Zahid was granted a DNAA on all 47 charges of corruption, CBT and money laundering involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds.