Reasons for discharging Zahid without acquittal are strong - AGC

PUTRAJAYA - The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) has affirmed that the application for a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) in the 47 cases faced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is based on reasons presented and accepted by the court.

In a statement today, the department informed that when making the decision, Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah had declared that the reasons presented by the prosecution were strong.

The statement was issued by the department in response to media reports characterizing the Attorney General's action as unethical.

Yesterday, Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar presented eleven reasons as to why the Umno President was granted a DNAA.

Among them, the defense called 15 witnesses, including the accused himself.

The prosecution argued that the testimony of these witnesses needed to be examined by them and the investigative team.

Zahid had submitted two representation Letters to the AGC, dated December 8th 2022, and January 25th of this year.

Following the representations made, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on January 20th 2023 informed the AGC that it was crucial for a more detailed, comprehensive, and thorough investigation to be conducted.

Zahid's representation Letter also touched on the issue of the investigation against the accused before, during, and after being charged in court, which was said to have been hasty, negligent, premature, and incomplete.

Earlier, Perikatan Nasional Chairman (PN) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin described the Attorney General's decision to halt proceedings against Zahid as unethical.

He argued this was because the prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case against the Rural and Regional Development Minister by presenting documented evidence and 99 witnesses.

Zahid faces 47 charges, including eight counts of corruption, 12 counts of criminal breach of trust, and 27 counts of money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit from Yayasan Akalbudi.