SHAH ALAM: The High Court here today acquitted and discharged former Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on 40 charges of receiving bribes in connection with the Foreign Visa System (VLN).

Judge Datuk Mohd Yazid Mustafa acquitted Ahmad Zahid, 69, who is also UMNO president, after finding that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie at the end of the prosecution case against him.

Following is the chronology of the case:

June 26, 2019 - Ahmad Zahid was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with seven charges of receiving bribe from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) amounting to SG$4.24 million in relation to the system.

June 27, 2019 - Ahmad Zahid was charged in the Shah Alam Sessions Court with 33 counts of receiving bribes from UKSB involving the VLN.

July 31, 2019 - The KL Sessions Court allowed an application by Ahmad Zahid to transfer to the Shah Alam Sessions Court his case on seven counts of corruption in relation to the VLN.

Nov 28, 2019 - Ahmad Zahid's case was transferred from the Sessions Court to the Shah Alam High Court.

Jan 6, 2020 - High Court Judge Datuk Noorin Badaruddin set April 12 to hear the corruption case.

March 16, 2021 - High Court Judge Datuk Mohd Yazid Mustafa set 16 days, namely May 24, 25 and 27, June 1-3, June 14-18 and June 21-25 for the hearing of the case.

Earlier, the hearing which was set on April 24, 2021 was postponed following the implementation of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) and was moved to May until June as a result of a change in High Court Judge.

May 24, 2021 - The hearing before Judge Mohd Yazid begins.

June 1, 2021 - The trial of Ahmad Zahid's corruption case was postponed to June 15 following the two-week total lockdown implemented nationwide starting today.

June 23, 2021 - The trial of Ahmad Zahid's corruption case was further postponed to July 5 following the implementation of MCO 3.0.

Aug 11, 2021 - After being postponed twice following the implementation of MCO 3.0, the trial of Ahmad Zahid's case is set for Aug 25 and Sept 1 and 2.

Aug 25, 2021 - Court granted the hearing to be vacated after Ahmad Zahid's counsel, Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, produced to the court a letter from a hospital stating his client's condition and injuries.

Sept 1, 2021 - The High Court allowed Ahmad Zahid's application to postpone his corruption trial as he is on sick leave until Sept 4, then set Sept 28, Oct 22, Nov 18 and 19, and Dec 20 to 24, to resume the trial.

Oct 11, 2021 - The High Court allowed Ahmad Zahid's application for the temporary return of his passport to enable him to go to Germany for back and neck pain treatment.

Dec 23, 2021 - The trial has been vacated as the former deputy prime minister was unwell. The trial was then set to resume on Feb 3, 2022.

Aug 11, 2022 - The prosecution closed its case after calling 18 witnesses.

Sept 1, 2022 - Submissions at the end of the prosecution's case begin.

Sept 7, 2022 - Judge Mohd Yazid set Sept 23, 2022 for the decision after hearing the submissions by both parties for four days.

-- BERNAMA