KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 — Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's trial over the alleged receiving of RM21.25 million in bribes and alleged dishonest misappropriation of over RM31 million of his charity Yayasan Akalbudi's funds has been postponed to 2023.
Today’s hearing was called off after Zahid’s lead counsel Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik informed the High Court that a witness he had planned to testify who is from Bagan Datuk in Perak, is unwell.
"I have just been informed by my colleague that this witness is not feeling well," he said.
He also asked the court to vacate the scheduled trial dates for tomorrow and two other days next week.
Hisyam also informed High Court judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah that the Court of Appeal is scheduled on November 14 to hear Zahid's appeal on his previous failed bid to obtain the statements given by 15 potential defence witnesses to investigators from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police.
Hisyam explained that a decision from the Court of Appeal would assist Zahid's legal team in deciding on the number of defence witnesses to be called in this trial and also the sequence in which they would be called.
"Quite a number of witnesses offered by the prosecution which we propose to call, but we will need guidance from the Court of Appeal as to whether we are able to get their statements or otherwise," he said.
Hisyam said his team are in a "dilemma", citing the third defence witness Jefri Jamil as an example where Zahid's lawyers called in but impeachment proceedings were initiated against him due to contradictions between what he told the court and what he had told the MACC in his previous statement recorded by the MACC.
Hisyam said the defence did not want to run the risk of having its other witnesses being impeached if they were to be called without waiting for the Court of Appeal decision.
Deputy public prosecutor Abdul Malik Ayob said he had no objections to the postponement.
"In light of the reasons given by learned counsel for the defence, I vacate today, tomorrow and the two dates next week, 9th and 10th November,” the judge said.
He added that the trial dates that had been vacated will have to be replaced, and proceeded to set 21 additional hearing dates from January to May next year.
The additional dates are January 16 to 19, January 30 to 31, February 7 to 9, March 27 to 30, April 10 to 13, and May 15 to 18.
In this trial, Zahid, who is also Umno president, is facing 47 charges, namely 12 counts of criminal breach of trust in relation to over RM31 million of charitable foundation Yayasan Akalbudi’s funds, 27 counts of money-laundering, and eight counts of bribery charges over RM21.25 million in alleged bribes.
Yayasan Akalbudi was founded with the purported objectives of receiving and administering funds for the eradication of poverty, and enhancing the welfare of the poor.
Zahid, who is also chairman of Barisan Nasional, will be defending his Bagan Datuk parliamentary seat in Perak in the 15th general election.
Nomination day is this Saturday, with the election campaign to go on for 14 days before polling day on November 19.
