KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has filed an appeal against the acquittal of Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi from 40 charges of corruption in connection with the Foreign Visa System (VLN).
A source from the Attorney-General's Chamber (AGC) confirmed this to the New Straits Times when contacted today.
"Yes, we filed the notice (of Appeal) today at 4.40pm," the source said in a brief reply via WhatsApp.
On Friday, Shah Alam High Court judge Datuk Yadiz Mustafa ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against the former deputy prime minister.
He said witnesses who testified against the Umno president were not credible or trustworthy and their testimony could not be relied upon.
The judge said even though there were suggestions that Zahid had received money, there was insufficient evidence to prove it.
On the infamous ledger which contained entries of those who allegedly received kickbacks from the company awarded the VLN contract, Yazid said the ledger was unreliable and no weightage should be given to it.
The prosecution team was led by Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran, Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, Abdul Malik Ayob, and Zander Lim Wai Keong.
Zahid, who is Bagan Datuk member of parliament, was slapped with 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (RM42 million) from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) to extend the firm's contract as the operator of a one-stop centre in China and the VLN system as well as to maintain a contract for the supply of the VLN integrated system.
The former home minister was also accused of another seven counts of obtaining for himself S$1.15 million, RM3 million, 15,000 Swiss francs and US$15,000 from the same company in connection with his official duties.
He was charged with committing all the offences at Seri Satria in Presinct 16, Putrajaya, and at Country Heights, Kajang, between October 2014 and March 2018.