MACC officer tells court 47 charges against Zahid a record
A veteran MACC officer today said that the 47 corruption charges against Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, to his personal knowledge, was the highest number faced by a politician following the 2018 change in government.
Khairudin Kilau, the 99th and final prosecution witness in Zahid's corruption, criminal breach of trust and money laundering trial, said this during cross-examination by defence lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
A veteran MACC officer today said that the 47 corruption charges against Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, to his personal knowledge, was the highest number faced by a politician following the 2018 change in government.
Khairudin Kilau, the 99th and final prosecution witness in Zahid's corruption, criminal breach of trust and money laundering trial, said this during cross-examination by defence lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Hisyam: In the 20 years (as a MACC officer), did you ever see or read anywhere about a politician, after a change of government, being slapped with 47 charges?
Khairudin: Not to my knowledge.
Hisyam: This is the first time?
Khairudin: To my knowledge, the first time.
Ahmad Zahid initially faced 45 charges on Oct 19, 2018, before being slapped with another two additional charges in December 2018, and February 2019.
For the record, former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman was brought to court in 2019 over 51 counts of corruption and money laundering but five of the charges were later dropped. All 46 charges were also subsequently dropped.
Hisyam then suggested to Khairudin that there was no factual or legal basis to the charges against Zahid.
He further suggested that all the charges against Zahid were initiated after BN's downfall and that they were politically motivated.
The charges, he further said, were drafted based on Zahid's status as Umno president.
Hisham also suggested to Khairudin that the charges as mounted against Zahid would damage the reputation of any individual brought before the court.
Khairudin disagreed with all the suggestions.
Ahmad Zahid is facing 47 charges involving Yayasan Akal Budi funds comprising 12 counts of criminal breach of trust, eight counts of corruption and 27 counts of money laundering.
Khairudin was the investigating officer-in-charge for the CBT charges.
[More to follow]
Report this comment
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.