KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): The High Court has dismissed former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's application to recover his passport to perform the Umrah.

High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah said although Ahmad Zahid has been performing the Umrah in the past 30 years, the situation currently is different as he is also facing various charges, and therefore the presumption of innocence has got to be balanced with the seriousness of the charges, as well as the likelihood and risk of absconding.

"From my understanding of the submission, the performance of the Umrah, although highly recommended during the fasting month, is not something compulsory. That is, therefore not a desperate need, nor is there an obligation, on the applicant to perform the Umrah," the judge said.

"Although the applicant has been performing the Umrah for the last 30 years, the situation and circumstances currently prevailing are very different, with that he is presently facing serious and numerous charges.

"The presumption of innocence against the accused must be balanced with the fact that with like of the seriousness of the charges, the likelihood and risk of absconding that can all be discounted. So the application for the release of passport is dismissed," Justice Sequerah added.

Ahmad Zahid is facing 47 charges, comprising 12 charges of criminal breach of trust, eight charges of corruption and 27 charges of money laundering.

The court today also fixed Nov 18 to 22, Dec 2 to Dec 6, and Dec 9 to Dec 13 to hear the charges, instead of the original dates in July.