MACC gets greenlight from AG, Zahid's mile-long charges list to grow longer

Former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will face fresh charges tomorrow and on Thursday, according to the MACC.

In a statement this afternoon, the commission said it has received the consent from the Attorney-General's Chambers to prosecute him.

The Umno president will be charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court tomorrow and in the Shah Alam Sessions Court.

"Zahid will face several charges in both courts under Section 16 (a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009 and Section165 of the Penal Code," the statement reads.

Yesterday, Zahid, who also served as home minister during the BN administration, was arrested at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya after he was summoned for questioning in relation to the "Overseas Visa System".

He was later released on bail.

To date, the Umno leader has already been slapped with 47 charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), receiving gratification and money laundering.

Zahid was first charged in October last year with 45 counts of CBT involving RM20.83 million, receiving RM21.25 million in gratification as the then home affairs minister, and laundering RM72.07 million in funds.

Of the 45 charges, 10 concerned CBT amounting to more than RM20.8 million of Yayasan Akal Budi funds on various occasions between 2014 and 2016.

In December, Zahid was charged with another count of CBT involving RM10 million of the foundation's funds from three years ago.

On Feb 20 this year, he was again subjected to a fresh count of CBT in relation to the alleged abuse of Yayasan Akal Budi funds.