Malaysia has dropped a multimillion-dollar corruption case against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on charges he defrauded a foundation.
Zahid had faced 47 charges involving multiple counts of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering related to the misuse of $27m of funds at Yayasan Akalbudi, a charity he established to eradicate poverty.
The Malay Mail reported that Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah agreed on Monday to grant Zahid a discharge not amounting to an acquittal after the prosecution said it needed more time to look into the case.
A discharge not amounting to an acquittal means the prosecution can revive the charges at a later date if it wants.
“My family and I are grateful that the court has discharged me of all 47 charges,” said Zahid, who had pleaded not guilty and said the charges were politically motivated.
The defence had asked for a full acquittal and Zahid’s lawyers said planned to appeal the discharge ruling.
Article from www.aljazeera.com