KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 — Former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed trial to 33 charges of accepting bribes worth RM42.76 million related to the Overseas Visa System and One Stop Centre in China, at the Sessions Court here today.

The Bagan Datuk MP clad in a black and gold batik shirt and black pants, nodded his head in affirmation and stated his plea after each charge was read out to him, but was allowed to sit down midway through.

The court interpreter took over half an hour to read out all the charges.

Of the charges, 26 were proffered under Section 16 (a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, with the remaining seven read under Section 165 of the Penal Code. 

The charges were read before Sessions Court Judge Rozilah Salleh, where lawyer Kitson Foong represented Zahid, and Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Mukhzany Fariz Mohd Mokhtar prosecuted over the case.

Judge Rozilah then set RM500,000 as bail with one surety, and July 29 as the next date for case management.

According to the charge sheet, the first 19 counts today accuse Zahid of accepting 19 cash bribes amounting to S$6.7 million (RM20.53million) from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd between October 2014 and September 2016.

The offences were allegedly committed at No. 389, Jalan Bayu Nyaman, Country Heights in Kajang and involve alleged kickbacks ranging from S$200,000 to S$600,000.

Zahid is also accused of receiving near-monthly payments of at least S$200,000 from Ultra Kirana during a two-year period that was unbroken except for March and July in 2015 and February, April and June in 2016.

He ss accused of receiving the bribes in the capacity as the home minister at that time as inducement for the ministry maintain the firm as the OVS system suppliers.

The next seven charges accuse Zahid of receiving as cash payments amounting to S$2.62million from the same company, this time to extend Ultra Kirana’s contract with the Home Ministry as the appointed operators of the OVS and the OSC systems in China.

The offences are said to have been committed between October 2016 and July 2017 at the same address in Kajang, also in the capacity as the home minister, with Zahid allegedly receiving payments ranging from S$300,000 to S$600,000.

These 26 offences were read under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act, which relates to a public officer soliciting or receiving or agreeing to receive gratification.

The offence is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the value of the bribe, RM10,000, or whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Lawyer Kitson Foong speaks to reporters at the Shah Alam High Court June 26, 2019. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

Zahid was also hit with seven charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code this morning, which relates to a public servant receiving valuables from a person concerned in business proceedings undertaken by the civil servant.

For the offences under the Penal Code, Zahid was accused of receiving the cash on seven occasions between June 2015 and April 2017 totalling to some RM6.78million, also from Ultra Kirana.

These included payments of €15,000 (RM70,707), one for US$15,000 (RM62,272), RM3.125 million in two payments, and three others of S$120,000, S$1 million, and S$30,000.

A conviction under this law is punishable by a maximum two-year prison sentence, a fine, or both.

The charges were read before Sessions Court Judge Rozilah Salleh, where lawyer Kitson Foong represented Zahid, and Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Mukhzany Fariz Mohd Mokhtar prosecuted over the case.

Judge Rozilah then set RM500,000 as bail with one surety, and July 29 as the next date for case management.

Yesterday at the Sessions Court here, Zahid pled not guilty to seven charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$4.24 million also from Ultra Kirana, concerning extensions of their contracts as the appointed OVS and OSC operators.

Outside court today, Zahid’s lawyer told reporters that both side have expressed interest in having all 40 charges jointly heard in the same court.

"Considering there are only seven charges in the Kuala Lumpur Court, in my opinion, it would be better for the case to be heard here in Shah Alam as there are 33 charges read out here,” said Foong after today’s proceedings.

Zahid, who is Umno president, has currently taken leave from party duties.

He has already been arraigned on 47 other charges, to which he has claimed trial — 27 for money laundering, 13 for criminal breach of trust and eight for corruption.

To date Zahid has a total of 87 charges against him, the most among figures from Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s previous Barisan Nasional administration, with the latter himself having 42 criminal charges against him.