Court of Appeal allows Bar Council to challenge Zahid’s DNAA corruption charges

The Court of Appeal has allowed the Malaysian Bar’s appeal to commence judicial review proceedings challenging the Attorney General’s decision to discontinue proceedings against Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the Yayasan Akalbudi corruption case.

A three-judge panel led by Datuk Faizah Jamaluddin set aside the High Court’s decision dated June 27, 2024.

In delivering the judgment, Faizah said the appeal was allowed and leave was granted to the Malaysian Bar to commence judicial review proceedings, after the court found that the application for leave was not frivolous and not without merit.

“This is an appropriate, rare and exceptional case that warrants a full judicial review,” Justice Faizah said in a unanimous decision here.

Ahmad Zahid was granted a DNAA on all 47 charges on Sept 4, 2023, after the prosecution told the court the Attorney General’s Chambers wanted to halt proceedings to scrutinise new evidence.

On Dec 2, 2023, the Bar filed the application for leave to seek judicial review, naming the Attorney General and the Deputy Prime Minister as respondents.

The application was filed following the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision to discharge Ahmad Zahid without acquittal on 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering related to the Yayasan Akalbudi funds.