Ahmad Zahid immune from prosecution, court told

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court was told today that Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is immune from prosecution because all the information about transactions relating to his family-run Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB) charity foundation had been disclosed by the former deputy prime minister.

Counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, who is representing Ahmad Zahid, said the accused is claiming immunity from prosecution under Section 30(7) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act.

"The accused (Ahmad Zahid) had on July 2, 2018, and July 3, 2018, made two statements pursuant to Section 30(3)(b) of the MACC Act. By these two statements, the accused had disclosed information and therefore under Section 30 (7) of the MACC Act, he is clothed with immunity from prosecution.

"These two statements were admitted through SP89 (89th prosecution witness Fairul Rafiq Hamirudin), the first investigation officer called by the prosecution. He confirmed under cross-examination that he had access and custody of the above statements. He also confirmed that he had vetted the statements.

"SP89 further confirmed the following that, both the statements were given pursuant to order under Section 30 (1) (a) of the MACC Act and that the accused was not prosecuted for an offence under Section 27 of the MACC Act in respect of both statements for giving information that is untrue," he said in his submissions at the end of the prosecution's case involving Ahmad Zahid before Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

Hisyam said based on the information given in one of the two statements, his client is immune from 46 out of the 47 charges and under the circumstances, the accused cannot be prosecuted.

"Thus, applying sub-section 30(7) to the facts of this case, it is respectfully submitted that the accused is therefore immune and cannot be prosecuted for 46 out of the 47 offences. These 46 offences are in respect of all 12 criminal breach of trust (CBT) charges, seven out of the eight corruption charges and for all 27 money laundering charges," he said.

On the outset, Hisyam said the charges against his client were instituted by former Attorney General (AG) Tan Sri Tommy Thomas.

Quoting a passage from the former AG in a recent book entitled My Story: Justice in the Wilderness, the lawyer said Thomas had explained that he only charged Ahmad Zahid after becoming satisfied of having a realistic chance of securing a conviction based on overwhelming evidence against the accused.

However, Hisyam said having heard, read and seen the evidence by the prosecution, despite the then AG's confidence in securing a conviction, the reality is that the charges were framed on thin ice.

Hisyam further submitted that his client has been unnecessarily and over prosecuted.

"The accused has been unnecessarily charged not based on law or evidence. Again, the right thing to do is for the prosecution to withdraw the CBT charge when there is obviously no CBT...My client has been unnecessarily charged not based on law or evidence," he said.

Hisyam argued that it is not in the public interest when an accused person is unnecessarily or wrongly charged.

"It eats up judicial time. In fact, it is an abuse of process. This Honourable Court must sound the alarm that judicial time is precious and cannot be abused. To the accused irreparable harm has been done. It is inherent in the office of the Public Prosecutor that he acts fairly for he is a minister of justice. The Public Prosecutor must be fair to the accused," he said.

Ahmad Zahid, 68, is facing 47 charges - 12 on CBT, eight on corruption and 27 on money laundering-involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to YAB. The hearing of submissions before Judge Sequerah continues tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA