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KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 8): Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will apply for a full acquittal in his Yayasan Akalbudi case, following the Attorney General Chamber's decision to terminate its prosecution.
The AGC on Thursday classified the case as "no further action" after concluding that there was insufficient evidence to proceed.
In response, lead defence counsel Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik said an application will be filed for a discharge amounting to an acquittal (DAA). “We will make an application to court for a full acquittal,” Hisyam told The Edge when contacted.
Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, was previously granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) on 47 graft charges in September 2023. Following that ruling, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission conducted further investigations.
As a result of the continued probe and a review of six representations submitted by the defence, the AGC on Thursday concluded that the available evidence could not support a continued prosecution. The AGC described this decision as the "final termination" of the matter.
In this case, Zahid was accused of dishonestly misappropriating RM31 million from his charitable foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi. He faced 12 counts of criminal breach of trust, eight counts of graft and 27 counts of money laundering.
In a separate case, Zahid was acquitted of all 40 graft charges related to a foreign visa system contract back in 2022. In December 2024, the prosecution withdrew its appeal against the acquittal.