SHAH ALAM: After calling a total of 18 witnesses, the prosecution rested its case against Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on 40 charges of receiving bribes from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB).
Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran said the prosecution was officially closing its case after its final witness – Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) senior investigating officer V. Mahendran - finished giving his testimony today.
She said the prosecution would offer 27 witnesses should Zahid's defence be called.
Among the witnesses offered to the defence are Home Ministry former deputy chief secretary (control and enforcement) Datuk Wahab Mohd Yasin, public private partnership unit (UKAS) deputy director (development II) Raja Muhammad Azhan Shah Raja Muhammad, as well as MACC officer S. Vijay Kumar.
High Court Judge Datuk Mohd Yazid Mustafa then ordered for parties to file in their written submissions by Aug 29 and file their reply by Sept 5.
The judge also fixed Sept 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8 for oral submissions.
Raja Rozela was assisted by DPPs Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, ABdul Malik Ayob, Zander Lim Wai Keong and B. Thavani.
The defence was led by lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Zainal and Hamidi Mohd Noh.
Earlier, Ahmad Zaidi during cross-examination asked the witness whether the anti graft body had recorded statement from Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein who was then the Home Minster over the foreign visa project (VLN).
The witness replied in the negative as Hishamuddin's name was not recorded in UKSB's infamous ledger book.
The book, dubbed Buku Tiga Lima, purportedly contains details of payments made by UKSB to several high-profile politicians allegedly for political donations.
Ahmad Zaidi: Your investigation only focused on Zahid?
Mahendran: I disagree. My investigation focused on VLN contract involving officers and ministers in the Home Ministry, who are Hishamuddin and Zahid.
Ahmad Zaidi: Did MACC record statements from the minister and government officers from the Immigration department?
Mahendran: Yes.
Ahmad Zaidi: Did MACC record statements from Khairy Jamaluddin, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin?
Mahendran: I am not sure.
Zahid, 69, who is Bagan Datuk member of parliament, had pleaded not guilty to 33 charges of receiving S$13.46 million from Ultra Kirana as inducement to extend the company's contract as the operator of a one-stop visa processing centre in China.
He is also facing another seven charges of accepting S$1,150,000, RM3 million, €15,000 and US$15,000 from the same company, which he knew had connections with his function as the then home minister.