According to state news agency Bernama, a Malaysian court on Monday granted the prosecution’s motion to withdraw all corruption allegations against the nation’s deputy prime minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
In connection with the mismanagement of finances at a nonprofit he founded, Zahid was facing 47 accusations of criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering.
After the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party lost the 2018 election, a number of accusations were made against prominent members of the party, including former prime leader Najib Razak over widespread misconduct at state fund 1MDB.
Prosecutors in Zahid’s case said they wanted more time to investigate his case “in more depth,” Bernama reported.
Zahid, wearing a dark suit, hugged his supporters and family members who sat inside the packed courtroom when the decision was announced by the presiding judge.
“My family and I are grateful that the court has discharged me of all 47 charges,” Zahid told a press conference.
According to the court, Zahid’s discharge did not constitute an acquittal.
After the election in November, when his UMNO party joined the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, he was named deputy prime minister.
After failing to secure an absolute majority to establish government, Anwar was obliged to join forces with his old adversaries.
In September of last year, a court ordered Zahid to be released from another graft case due to a lack of evidence.
