KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has decided that no further action will be taken in relation to 47 charges involving criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering linked to Yayasan Akalbudi funds against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
It said the decision effectively brings the case to an end, in accordance with the Attorney-General's powers and discretion under the Federal Constitution and relevant laws.
“The AGC stresses that the decision was made based on professional and legal considerations, taking into account the interests of justice, the integrity of the prosecutorial process, as well as the need to ensure certainty and transparency within the criminal justice system,” the AGC said in a statement today.
It referred to the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision on September 4, 2023, to grant a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to Zahid on 47 charges involving criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering linked to Yayasan Akalbudi funds.
Following the DNAA ruling, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) conducted further and comprehensive investigations into the source of funds, methods of acquisition, and utilisation of the funds.
The ACG added that these included matters raised through six representations submitted to it after Zahid was called to enter his defence.
“After examining all the materials and new evidence obtained from the further investigations and reviews, the AGC, based on prosecutorial assessment and consideration, found that the available evidence was insufficient to support the continuation of the prosecution on all the charges,” it said.
The assessment took into account several factors, including the scope and focus of the initial-stage investigations directly related to the charges filed.
In addition, the AGC considered internal prosecutorial considerations and early-stage assessments of the evidence's suitability and sufficiency to support the prosecution, as well as the sustainability of continuing the prosecution.
“The department also considered the subsequent further and detailed investigative steps carried out by the MACC to complete and refine the overall picture of the facts, context and new evidence in the case.
“…including the findings from the further investigations, which covered the entire period of the establishment and operations of Yayasan Akalbudi, including the flow and contributions of funds into the foundation from time to time,” it said.
On September 4, 2023, the High Court granted Zahid a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering related to Yayasan Akalbudi funds.
Then-High Court judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, now a Federal Court judge, delivered the ruling after the prosecution informed the court that the AGC intended to discontinue the proceedings against him.
