Malaysian prosecutor drops corruption deputy PM charges

Bangkok, Sep 4 (EFE).- The Malaysian Prosecutor’s Office withdrew Monday the accusation against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid, who faced 47 charges of malpractice, bribery and money laundering in relation to a charitable foundation of which he is treasurer.

The Prosecutor’s decision marks the end of the trial against Ahmad Zahid, which began in November 2019 and in which the deputy prime minister was being tried for numerous irregularities in the Yayasan Akalbudi foundation, according to state press agency Bernama.

Ahmad Zahid welcomed the decision of the Prosecutor’s Office, but told the media he would appeal the sentence, since he wants, in addition to dropping the charges, the court to acquit him so that there is no possibility of restarting the trial in the future.

The deputy prime minister is also the president of the National Organization of the United Malays, one of the parties in the government coalition.

Ahmad Zahid was appointed to his post and also serves as Minister of Rural and Regional Development since December after the November victory of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who belongs to another party.

In recent years, Malaysia has been shaken by political instability and several cases of corruption, including the embezzlement of the state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad, which came to light through several journalistic investigations in 2015 and involved Goldman Sachs bankers.

Former Prime Minister Najjib Razak went to prison last year to serve a 12-year sentence for his involvement in the plot. EFE

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