Amid condemnation over Zahid, AGC says judge accepted 'our cogent reasons'

The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has defended its controversial move leading to the dropping of the 47 corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, saying the judge decided based on the strong reasons it submitted to the court.

In a short statement, the AGC said Zahid was given a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) because High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah was convinced by the arguments submitted by the prosecution.

"In reaching the decision, the judge stated that the reasons submitted by the prosecution were cogent," it said, responding to statements describing the decision as immoral.

This came amid growing criticism of the AGC as well as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government, with many urging the attorney-general to explain the unprecedented move to discharge Zahid despite the prima facie case established against the Umno president.

Earlier, Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin joined the chorus of condemnation over the DNAA for Zahid, describing the AGC's move to discontinue its case against the Umno president as "lacking morality".

"Strangely, the prosecution, which had successfully proven a prima facie case, requested the court to drop the charges. This is highly unreasonable. Does this mean that the prosecution acknowledges that the evidence they presented in court could not be used? Or was there an order from higher authorities that this case must be dropped no matter what?" the former prime minister said.

"If there was indeed such an order, dropping the charges against Zahid after he was directed to defend himself in court marks a very dark stain on our country's judicial system. This has never happened in the history of independent Malaysia."