By Selangor Journal Staff
KUALA LUMPUR – Former Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is slapped with 45 charges related to criminal breach of trust, money laundering and corrupt practices, at the Sessions Court under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.
Both the prosecution and his lawyers agreed to a bail of RM2 million.
The court ordered RM1mil to be paid on Friday (Oct 19) and the balance before or on Oct 26.
Ahmad Zahid pleaded not guilty to 10 CBT charges involving the Yayasan Akalbudi fund and eight corruption charges amounting to RM42 million.
He also pleaded not guilty on 27 money laundering charges amounting to RM72 million.
The 65-year-old Umno President was arrested on Thursday at 3.15pm at the MACC head office.
He was being investigated over alleged abuse of funds in his family-run foundation, Yayasan Akal Budi.
He had also been called in for questioning over an alleged meeting with a member of the Saudi Arabian royal family.
Zahid, who was elected as Umno president in June, is the first sitting Umno president to be hauled to court to face criminal charges.
Former Prime Minister, Najib Razak, was also present in court together with other senior Umno leaders. Najib left shortly before the charges were read.
The court set Dec 14 for the next case mention.
