Zahid in quarantine, trial postponed again

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today allowed Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s application to postpone his trial, fixed for today until Wednesday, as he remains under quarantine due to Covid-19.

Lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh, representing the former deputy prime minister, said Zahid would need to remain quarantined until Sept 28.

“My client did a swab test after a surprise visit by officers from the health ministry at his house yesterday, and the result was negative.

“Today he will be undergoing the mandatory health ministry test at his residence for RT-PCR to determine whether the result is negative or positive. I was made to understand that the test can only be done at the end of the day today.

“As such, the defence wishes to apply for postponement of the trial for today, tomorrow and Wednesday,” he said.

Hamidi said he was also made to understand that Zahid might be at risk as on Sept 19, he was with Barisan Nasional’s candidate for the Sabah state seat of Pitas, Sufian Abd Karim, who tested positive for Covid-19.

He said Zahid and Sufian had taken pictures together.

Deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran said the prosecution did not object to the postponement.

Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah then allowed the application by the defence and vacated the trial dates for today until Wednesday.

He said trial would resume on Oct 12.

During the hearing on Sept 21, the court granted Zahid’s application to have his trial, which was set for Sept 21 and 22, postponed as he had to go for a Covid-19 screening.

Zahid faces 47 charges, 12 of them involving criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption, and 27 for money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit in funds belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.