“Zahid had previously stood on stage and instigated the public to distrust judiciary, falsely alleging that the Federal Court was biased against Najib by not allowing the former premier to adduce new evidence. Today, however, Zahid claimed that he had faith in the judiciary since “day one” of his trial”
Raggie Jessy Rithaudeen
امنو دجڠك رتق لاڬي سوسولن ڤمبيبسن زاهيد
Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s acquittal of corruption charges in relation to the foreign visa system (VLN) contract is bound to cause disappointment and disbelief among die hard supporters of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and risk splitting UMNO further.
This is considering that Zahid had previously stood on stage and instigated the public to distrust judiciary, falsely alleging that the Federal Court was biased against Najib by not allowing the former premier to adduce new evidence.
Today, however, Zahid claimed that he had faith in the judiciary since “day one” of his trial.
SENTIASA IKUTI PERKEMBANGAN POLITIK TERKINI MENERUSI www.thethirdforce.net
The contradicting stance is bound to set tongues wagging and trigger suspicion, as Zahid, who still faces 47 corruption charges in a separate trial, faces the near impossible task of rallying whatever is left of Najib supporters behind him.
Interestingly, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Zahid’s lawyer, had taken over as defence counsel during the failed SRC final appeal following Mohammad Shafee Abdullah’s sacking as Najib’s defence lawyer.
This is bound to muddy waters, as Zahid himself instigated people to distrust judiciary and must now face an ever suspicious crowd.
According to media reports, netizens took to social media to express their disappointment and disbelief over Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s acquittal of corruption charges in relation to the foreign visa system (VLN) contract.
Free Malaysia Today (FMT) quoted one user, who goes by the handle @shieranism, as saying, “Zahid freed? Seriously? What the fish”.
Another, who is said to go by @adelkamall, remarked how good Zahid’s lawyer must have been.
FMT wrote:
User @YbSadik said it was “disturbing” news. “Anyhow, hope Zahid won’t be too happy. I believe the worst is yet to come for him,” @YbSadik said, referring to Zahid’s money laundering and criminal breach of trust trial.
Another user, who goes by @datukhensem, quipped that if Umno supporters could accept the court’s finding on Zahid, they would need to accept the decision on former prime minister Najib Razak, who was recently jailed after losing his appeal in the SRC International case.
“A shameless and corrupt nation,” was how one netizen with the moniker @shanghaifish reacted to the decision, noting evidence presented during a hearing where other political leaders were said to have received “political donations”.
Zahid, 69, was acquitted by the High Court this morning of 40 charges of receiving bribes from a company to extend its foreign visa system (VLN) contract.
Judge Yazid Mustafa ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against the Umno president and former deputy prime minister.
Zahid had been accused of 33 counts of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (RM42 million) from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) as the then home minister to extend the firm’s contract as the operator of a one-stop centre in China and the VLN system as well as to maintain a contract for the supply of the VLN integrated system.
He was also charged with seven other counts of obtaining for himself S$1.15 million, RM3 million, 15,000 Swiss francs and US$15,000 from the same company in connection with his official duties.
