KUALA LUMPUR (April 8): The defence testimony by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is facing 47 criminal breach of trust, graft and money laundering charges in the High Court will happen earlier, namely on Wednesday (April 13).
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This followed Ahmad Zahid’s counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik informing the court that the former deputy prime minister will not be available on the previous dates fixed by the court, namely April 26 to 28.
Hisyam said that his client had applied to get his passport for him to go overseas from April 21 to 30.
There was no objection by the prosecution led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran, who informed the court that it should fix replacement dates to replace the three days.
Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah agreed that parties should fix the agreed dates and noted that as there was no objection by the prosecution, the court granted the application in terms so that the passport could be released immediately (Friday, April 8) for Ahmad Zahid to apply for a visa to go for the trip.
The judge then fixed April 13, 15 and July 1 as the replacement dates as agreed by both the defence and prosecution.
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At present, Justice Sequerah is hearing Hisyam’s submissions for the defence to obtain the recorded statements of 15 witnesses that had been offered by the prosecution to the defence.
The prosecution is objecting to the request.
On Jan 24, Justice Sequerah ordered Ahmad Zahid, who is the Bagan Datoh Member of Parliament, to enter into his defence in respect of all 47 charges in relation to Yayasan Akalbudi, a foundation which he leads.
Twelve of the charges are with regard to criminal breach of trust, eight for graft and 27 for money laundering.
Ahmad Zahid had elected to testify from the witness stand, resulting in him being cross-examined by the prosecution.- The Edge Market