UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has claimed trial to a further 33 charges of corruption for pocketing some RM42.7 million for awarding a contract to Ultra Kinrara Sdn Bhd to handle a foreign visa system. 

This raises the total criminal charges he faces up to 87, including seven fresh corruption charges filed by prosecutors at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court yesterday. 

The former deputy prime minister, dressed in black batik, appeared calm as court interpreters took more than 30 minutes to read out the charge sheet before Shah Alam Sessions Court judge Rozilah Salleh.

He pleaded not guilty to 26 charges for offences under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act and seven charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code. 

Zahid stood in the dock but was allowed to sit after 15 minutes when the 11th charge was read out, upon request by lead defence counsel Ahmad Zaidi Zainal.  

His daughter, Nurul Hidayah, was in the public gallery along with her husband and a few supporters. 

The judge set bail at RM500,000 in one surety and July 29 for case mention.

The graft charges involved multiple currencies, including S$9.32 million for the 26 charges, while the remaining seven charges involve RM3.125 million, S$1.15 million, €15,000 and US$15,000.

Zahid is accused of receiving the bribes to extend Ultra Kinrara’s contract to manage a one-stop centre in China and VLN, or overseas passport programme.

The offences were said to have taken place at his private residence in Jalan Bayu Nyaman, Country Heights, Kajang, between October 2014 and October 2017.

Zahid was also accused of committing the offences in his capacity as home minister, a post he served between 2013 and 2018.

He was represented by Kitson Foong, Hamidi Mohd Noh, Rosal Azimin and Mohd Shahril Madisa.

Mohd Mukhzany Fariz Mohd Mokhtar and Zander Lim Wai Keong prosecuted.

Yesterday, Zahid was slapped with seven corruption charges involving S$4.24 million (RM12.9 million) related to the awarding of a contract to a company to handle the foreign visa system.

All 40 charges, involving Ultra Kinrara, amount to RM55.6 million.

MACC questioned the Umno president on Monday.

Zahid already faces 47 counts of criminal breach of trust, money-laundering and receiving gratification.

He faces 12 counts of CBT involving some RM21 million linked to Yayasan Akal Budi, which he once led.

He also faces eight graft charges involving RM21.25 million and 27 money-laundering charges involving RM72 million.

Zahid has been on leave from party duties since December. – June 27, 2019.