Zahid's case: Court has no choice, stop fooling the people - Latheefa

PUTRAJAYA - The former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Latheefa Koya has urged all parties to stop misleading the public by incessantly reiterating that the decision to discharge without amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) in the case of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is a court decision.

In a submission via Application X, Latheefa stated that pointing fingers at the court is an insult.

This is because, she said, the Federal Constitution, Article 145 (3), clearly states that the court has no choice making the decision.

"So, do not blame the court. It is dishonest and insulting to the hardworking judges.

"The government cannot point fingers at others," she said today.

According to Latheefa, Article 145 (3) provides that only the Attorney General has the power to initiate, continue, or stop prosecution.

"When the Deputy Public Prosecutor informs the court not to proceed with the case, the court must release him because it has no power to continue the proceedings," she said.

Earlier, the prosecution informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court that they wanted to halt proceedings against Zahid, who is also the Umno president by presenting 11 reasons.

Zahid was facing 47 charges, including eight counts of corruption, 12 counts of criminal breach of trust, and 27 counts of money laundering involving funds from the Yayasan Akalbudi.

On Jan 24 last year, the court ruled that the prosecution had successfully proven a prima facie case at the end of its case.