Federal Court allows Zahid's bid to appeal Malaysian Bar's challenge on 47 charges

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court today granted Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi leave to appeal against a court ruling allowing the Malaysian Bar to pursue a judicial review challenging the withdrawal of his 47 criminal charges.

A three-member bench comprising judges Datuk Seri Hashim Hamzah, Datuk Nordin Hassan, and Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali allowed two applications for leave to appeal after finding that the case raised novel constitutional issues of public importance.

In delivering the decision, the bench said the issues required clarification and final determination by the Federal Court.

The Malaysian Bar is challenging the prosecution's decision to withdraw all 47 charges against Zahid on Sept 4, 2023, after he had been ordered to enter his defence in the Yayasan Akalbudi case.

The charges involved corruption, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering.