Bersih, C4 urge AGC to explain NFA decision on Zahid

PETALING JAYA - The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) should explain its decision of no further action (NFA) on the 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering linked to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Several non-governmental organisations have urged the AGC to respond specifically to the issue of having previously proven a prima facie case against Ahmad Zahid in the Yayasan Akalbudi case.

“The AGC should respond to how that squares with their current position that there is insufficient evidence to continue prosecution,” said a joint statement from The Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Centre) and the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) on Friday (Jan 9).

They also called on the current government to draft and publish clear and just guidelines on the conduct and decision-making process of prosecutors fairly and uniformly.

“This should be in tandem with the efforts to separate the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor offices,” the groups said.

They were commenting on a statement by the AGC on Thursday (Jan 8) that it had decided on NFA in relation to the 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds linked to Ahmad Zahid.

According to the AGC, the decision also led to the final termination of the case.

Saying that they were “appalled” by the statement, the groups said it was important to note that the decision to discontinue the prosecution against Zahid was made after a prima facie case had been made out against him.

“This means that the prosecution had already proved through credible evidence each ingredient of the offences Zahid was charged with, which would warrant a conviction if unrebutted or unexplained.

“In other words, the prosecution had already proved their case against Zahid at this stage,” they said.

However, they pointed out that the AGC in its statement had said upon investigations into the totality of matters and new evidence, there was “insufficient evidence” to sustain the continuation of prosecution for the 47 charges.

“How is this possible, given that the prosecution had already proven their case against Ahmad Zahid in a court of law for the 47 charges?” they asked.

They claimed that this situation has led to public doubt in the integrity of the Malaysian criminal justice system. - THE STAR