KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 – The Court of Appeal has given the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) until September to decide on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s representation for the AGC’s consideration to discontinue its appeal in his acquittal case related to the foreign visa system (VLN) contract. The ultimatum was issued by a three-member bench led by Court of Appeal judge Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail, who also allowed for today’s appeal hearing to be adjourned to another date due to the undecided status of Ahmad Zahid’s representations to the AGC.
Ahmad Zahid’s counsel, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, informed the court about representations made to the AGC and requested an adjournment of today’s proceedings. The defence emphasized the need for the AGC to carefully consider the representations, highlighting the fairness and justice in the process. The AGC Trial and Appeals division head, Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, did not object to the defence’s request for adjournment. The court set September 9 for the next hearing.
Ahmad Zahid was acquitted of all charges related to receiving bribes in the VLN contract case by the Shah Alam High Court in September 2022. However, the prosecution appealed the decision, leading to the current proceedings. This case marks the deputy prime minister’s second legal battle following his discharge not amounting to an acquittal in another case involving the misappropriation of funds from Yayasan Akalbudi.
