KUALA LUMPUR (July 31): Umno president and former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's 40 charges of graft involving the immigration Department Visa system will be heard in Shah Alam instead.
Sessions Court judge Azman Ahmad today decided that Zahid will not be prejudiced if the trial is held there, as per his defence team's request.
"Furthermore, most of the witnesses are based there," he said in his oral decision.
The defence team — led by Hisyam Teh Poh Teik and comprising Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Zainal and Hamidi Mohd Noh — had requested that his trial be held in Shah Alam via a written application on July 15.
Meanwhile, the prosecution had only asked the case be heard in KL on July 26.
Earlier, the defence and prosecution made submissions over the application for transfer.
Ahmad Zahid is charged in Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with seven counts of graft amounting to S$4.24 million from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd.
The former deputy prime minister also faces 33 counts of bribery at the Shah Alam Sessions Court amounting to RM42.7 million for receiving funds from Ultra Kirana. He had claimed trial to all the charges at the KL and Shah Alam Courts.
The prosecution team today is led by deputy public prosecutor Gan Peng Kun and includes Zander Lim and Hasifulkhair Mohd Jamaluddin.
Sessions Court judge Azman fixed Aug 14 for mention in Shah Alam.
Hamidi told theedgemarkets.com that the defence would also make an application to have the matter heard at the Shah Alam High Court and not at the Sessions Court.
"However, this may be subject to the prosecution appealing against or applying for a revision for today's decision," he said.