MALAYSIAN Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi scored a fresh legal victory on Thursday (Dec 12) as prosecutors dropped their challenge against his graft acquittal, a development that risks eroding public trust in Anwar Ibrahim’s government.
Prosecutors withdrew their appeal at the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya, following representations Zahid had made to the Attorney-General’s Chambers. “Once the prosecutors withdrew their appeals, the court hereby cancels the appeals,” said justice Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali, who led a three-panel bench.
Zahid was charged in 2019 with receiving bribes from a local firm in exchange for extending its contract as a service provider for Malaysia’s one-stop service centre in China and foreign visa system. A high court acquitted him in September 2022 after ruling that prosecutors failed to establish sufficient evidence against him.
“After examining the entirety of this case, the Attorney-General’s Chambers found no testimony, in this case, to show the respondent directly used his position to award the contracts that were the subject of this trial,” said deputy public prosecutor Yusaini Amer Abdul Karim in court on Thursday.
The decision is poised to add to the growing disillusionment towards Prime Minister Anwar, who rose to power in 2022 promising reforms and an end to corruption. Zahid, a crucial ally to Anwar, was already discharged mid-trial last year from 47 graft charges in a separate case involving a trust fund, courting backlash against the government. Zahid leads the scandal-tainted United Malays National Organisation that Anwar counts on to stay in power.
“I am thankful to God and the legal system for the withdrawal of the appeal by the deputy public prosecutors,” Zahid told reporters after the decision. “I am thankful to my lawyers who worked hard to send two letters of representation.” BLOOMBERG
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