Stop fooling the people, ex-MACC chief tells govt leaders over Zahid discharge

Former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Latheefa Koya today hit out at those trying to justify the High Court's decision yesterday to drop corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, as government leaders switch to damage-control mode in the face of mounting public criticism over the conduct of the prosecution.

Latheefa, who served as head of the anti-graft agency during Dr Mahathir Mohamad's second term as prime minister, said the court had no choice in the matter after the prosecution themselves applied for a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA).

"Stop trying to fool the people by repeating endlessly that Zahid's DNAA was the court's decision," she said in a Twitter post.

"Article 145(3) is clear – the court had no choice in the matter. So don't blame the court. That's dishonesty and a slur on a hardworking judge. The government can't push the buck on this to anyone else."

Zahid, the Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman, was given the DNAA after the Attorney-General's Chambers decided to discontinue the case against him.

He had faced 12 charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight of corruption, and 27 of money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.

Among the CBT charges was that he allegedly settled his credit card debts using Yayasan Akalbudi through 44 cheques amounting to some RM1.3 million between January 2013 and December 2016.

Ruling politicians have largely avoided commenting on the issue in the face of condemnations on social media, with many merely saying they respected the court's decision.