Latheefa questions prosecution's appeal withdrawal in Zahid's VLN case

Summary:

• Former MACC chief Latheefa Koya questioned prosecution’s move to withdraw an appeal to review Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s acquittal in the Foreign Visa System corruption case.

• She said she had overseen investigations into initial allegations and recommended charges against Zahid.

• She said the law must equally apply to all regardless of position.

Lawyer-activist Latheefa Koya has questioned the prosecution’s move to withdraw an appeal to review Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s acquittal in the Foreign Visa System (VLN) corruption case.

Latheefa (above) referred to her tenure as the MACC chief commissioner and how she had overseen investigations which led to Zahid being charged with over 40 counts of corruption linked to VLN, allegedly committed while he was the home minister.

“I would not ordinarily comment on cases I had investigated, but this case attracts the highest considerations of national interest.

“I made the decision to recommend to the attorney-general that Zahid be charged based upon the MACC investigation papers and discussions with my officers. Every angle was looked into.

“The investigation was painstakingly comprehensive. I had no hesitation in making the recommendation,” she said in a statement.

“Therefore, I am shocked by the claim of the AG’s representative in the court of appeal that there was ‘strong legal or factual basis’ to withdraw the appeal.

“Based upon the evidence and taking into account the judgment of the High Court, the law should have been permitted to run its course,” she stressed.

On Dec 12, the Court of Appeal upheld Zahid’s acquittal after the prosecution informed that they were withdrawing their appeal.

Two years ago, the Shah Alam High Court granted a discharge amounting to an acquittal to Zahid after finding that prosecutors had failed to prove a prima facie case.

Law must apply equally

Commenting further, Latheefa said the law must apply equally to all regardless of their position, as enshrined under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution.

“This comes after the dropping of 47 CBT and corruption charges against Zahid in the Akalbudi case in September last year.

“Would an ordinary government clerk charged with petty corruption receive such favourable treatment from the AG?

“The inescapable conclusion is that in Malaysia the rule of law is crippled.

“It is fundamental to the rule of law that all citizens be treated alike, irrespective of their status or political position,” she said in calling out Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and leaders in government for purported silence over the failure to uphold good governance.

In September last year, prosecutors applied to drop the 47 Yayasan Akalbudi graft charges against Zahid, leading to the Kuala Lumpur High Court granting a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.

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