No need to drop charges against Zahid without acquittal - Lawyer

SHAH ALAM - There is no need for the public prosecutor to drop the charges without acquittal (DNAA) involving the case of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla said there are three main issues in the case, which is the prosecutor's discretion to evaluate the representation or time period of making the Accused Person (OCT), the individual who made the decision and the reasonable grounds for withdrawing the charge.

He said when there is a high-profile case in court and a decision is made at any level, it can create a perception from the concept and understanding of the people as if there is interference by any party.

"These three issues must be addressed correctly so that the people's confidence in the rule of law system is not fragile.

"Regarding Zahid's case, it is crucial to explain together the three questions that I presented from Sept 4 until today have not been answered reasonably by all parties," he said.

He said this when he was a panelist on the Wacana Sinar series 413 entitled 'DNAA: Dilemma of the Public Prosecutor's decision' hosted by Ismail Adnan yesterday.

Haniff also questioned the action of stopping the prosecution against Zahid, asking whether the decision was made by the Attorney-General at that time, Tan Sri Idrus Harun or Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh.

He added that when an Attorney-General does not carry out work either on vacation, retires or passes away, then the Solicitor-General takes over his duties.

"Ahmad Terrirudin was the Solicitor-General before becoming the Attorney-General effective Sept 6, so when did Idrus go on vacation?

"If the DNAA's decision is made before Idrus goes on vacation, then Idrus is responsible for giving a complete explanation, but if it is made during or after, then Ahmad Terrirudin, even though he has just performed the duties of the Attorney General on the date in question, is responsible," he said.